GAZA/WEST BANK: ISRAEL PLACES INDEFINITE CLOSURE ON WEST BANK AS HAMAS VOWS REVENGE FOR THE KILLING OF ISLAMIC MILITANT YAHYA AYYASH

Record ID: 401015

  • Title: GAZA/WEST BANK: ISRAEL PLACES INDEFINITE CLOSURE ON WEST BANK AS HAMAS VOWS REVENGE FOR THE KILLING OF ISLAMIC MILITANT YAHYA AYYASH
  • Date: 7th January 1996
  • Summary: A-RAM JUNCTION, WEST BANK AND EREZ CHECKPOINT, GAZA STRIP (JANUARY 7, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) A-RAM JUNCTION, WEST BANK 1. SV ISRAELI SOLDIERS AT CHECKPOINT ENTRANCE TO ISRAEL 0.15 2. SV VEHICLES ARRIVING AT CHECKPOST 0.20 3. SV ISRAELI SOLDIERS CHECKING DRIVERS' IDENTITY DOCUMENTS 0.25 4. SV BUS ARRIVING AT CHECKPOINT
  • Embargoed: 22nd January 1996 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: A-RAM JUNCTION, WEST BANK AND EREZ CHECKPOINT, GAZA STRIP
  • City:
  • Country: Israel
  • Reuters ID: LVA72C9Y8QSW59WDB69AMICW1KI0
  • Story Text: Israel clamped an indefinite closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Sunday (January 7), in a move to prevent attacks after the Islamic militant Hamas group vowed to avenge the killing of its bombing mastermind Yahya Ayyash.

    More than 100,000 Palestinians, many of them Islamic militants crying for vengeance, buried Ayyash in one of the largest funerals seen in the PLO-ruled Gaza Strip.

    Ayyash, known as the "Engineer", was said by Israel to be the brains behind a wave of suicide bomb attacks that killed some 77 Israelis and foreigners since the 1993 Israeli-PLO peace accord. He was killed on Friday (January 5) apparently by a booby-trapped cellular telephone.

    Israel suspended joint Israeli-Palestinian patrols in PLO-rule areas and soldiers manning checkpoints between Israel and territories ruled by the Palestine Liberation Organisation were put on higher alert after the killing.

    Security on public transportation was increased and Israelis were advised to be more aware of their surroundings.

    Israeli officials have not confirmed or denied involvement in the killing of its most wanted fugitive but Hamas blamed Israel for his death and called for "quick and painful" revenge.

    Hamas has claimed responsibility for several reprisal attacks against Israel, but the militant group suspended its assaults against the Jewish state last year following pressure from PLO leader Yasser Arafat's self-rule Authority.

    Though Hamas never officially acknowledged a truce, its leaders had said privately they would respect the Palestinian Authority's obligation not to have armed attacks launched from its territory.

    Hamas has now called for Arafat to return weapons confiscated from its military wing, saying Ayyash's killing ends a moratorium on armed attacks against Israel.


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