GAZA: PALESTINIANS ASSESS DAMAGE OF LATEST ISRAELI INCURSION AND AIR STRIKES ON THE RAFAH REFUGEE CAMP

Record ID: 400895

  • Title: GAZA: PALESTINIANS ASSESS DAMAGE OF LATEST ISRAELI INCURSION AND AIR STRIKES ON THE RAFAH REFUGEE CAMP
  • Date: 17th March 2004
  • Summary: (U2) RAFAH, GAZA STRIP (MARCH 17, 2004) (REUTERS) +++NIGHT SHOTS+++ 1. HELICOPTER FIRING 0.11 2. MEN SIFTING THROUGH RUBBLE IN DARKNESS 0.20 3. RUBBLE OF BUILDING 0.28 4. MAN POINTING AT RUBBLE 0.32 5. MEN SIFTING THROUGH RUBBLE 0.37 6. CLOSE OF HOLE IN WALL 0.43 7. CROWD LOOKING THROUGH RUBBLE 0.50
  • Embargoed: 1st April 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: RAFAH, GAZA STRIP
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Reuters ID: LVADWE9HL1F4TFN3QL3J4426R7LE
  • Story Text: Palestinians assess damage of incursion and air
    strikes.


    Palestinians awoke on Thursday (March 18) to a fresh
    scene of destruction in the Rafah refugee camp.

    Israel killed four Palestinians in two missile strikes
    in the camp on Wednesday (March 17) in what it is calling a
    relentless offensive against militants. The renewed
    campaign in Gaza comes after two suicide bombers from there
    struck a strategic Israeli port, killing 10 people.

    The military action against militants and their leaders
    was launched on Tuesday (March 16) when three helicopter
    missiles hit the house of an Islamic Jihad commander in
    Gaza City. Two Palestinians died, one a militant. The
    commander escaped with minor injuries.

    On Wednesday in Rafah, an Israeli helicopter fired two
    missiles into a group of Palestinians, killing a gunman and
    a 45-year-old bystander. Another Israeli missile launched
    at midmorning killed a 15-year-old youth and critically
    wounded a boy of 14 who died later.

    In both cases the missiles targeted armed Palestinian
    groups preparing to attack Israeli troops, the army said.

    Fighting flared in Rafah after the air strikes as
    troops backed by tanks and bulldozers demolished at least
    16 houses, coming under fire from militants.

    The army said it had been searching for arms-smuggling
    tunnels but found none before pulling out after dark.

    On Thursday morning, camp residents sifted through the
    rubble left by the army operation.

    Top Israeli security and defence officials have given
    the nod to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to pull out
    of most of the Gaza Strip, except for a corridor along the
    Egyptian border.


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