At least 10 Palestinians on Thursday were killed in the southern Gaza Strip following Israeli copter attacks.
Israeli Apache helicopters fired four missiles at block "O" refugee camp of Rafah City, killing three Palestinians and wounding at least 15 others, eight critically, witnesses and Palestinian medical sources said. Two victims were identified as Sameh Yusuf Abu Juzr, 22, and Muhammed Musa Mawafi, 15.
Witnesses told WAFA that Israeli helicopter gunships fired four missiles towards a crowd of Palestinians in the refugee camp on the borderline with Egypt.
Early Thursday, seven other Palestinians were killed and at least 35 others were wounded when Israeli helicopters fired a number of missiles at houses in Rafah, witnesses and Palestinian medical sources said.
The victims were identified as Mohammad al-Buji, Iyab Yusuf, Hani al Mughyer, Hassan Khader Awajeh, Ramez Abu Ghali, Wael Subhi Abu al Anin and Fuad Khaled Abu Hashem.
Israeli APC destroyed
These Israeli raids came just hours after five Israeli soldiers were killed when an armored personnel carrier (APC) was hit while travelling near Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. Five other soldiers were also injured in the attack.
The APC was hit by an anti-tank rocket or by a bomb, that caused explosives it was carrying to explode.
Palestinian sources reported that 10 Palestinian bystanders were injured as a result of the powerful blast, whose force caused parts of the APC to be hurled to a large distance, into Palestinian as well as Egyptian territory.
Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.
Israeli F-16 fighter jets and helicopters were patrolling the area immediately after the attack, as large Israeli forces were moving into the area of the blast.
According to Palestinian sources, an helicopter fired two missiles at targets in the area, wounding at least five Palestinians.
The attack came 36 hours after six Israeli soldiers were killed in a similar attack at the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
