Dozens of Israeli tanks backed by attack helicopters pushed into the Rafah refugee camp Saturday, one of the largest military incursions into the Gaza Strip in 30 months of fighting, Palestinians said.
At least five Palestinians were killed, including a 15-year-old boy, doctors said. Palestinian sources listed the dead as Hussein Zaanu, 22, Saib el Masri, 28, Mohamed al-Hamayda, 20, Nahed al-Nawajha, 32, and Mahmud Abu Koch, 15.
Witnesses said at least 40 people were wounded. One Israeli soldier was killed and three others injured, including one seriously, Israel Radio reported Sunday.
The incursion appeared to have targeted the Yibna neighborhood. Israeli forces penetrated the camp from three directions using more than 35 tanks and armored personnel carriers, bulldozers and jeeps. Five attack helicopters circled overhead, flashing spotlights.
The Israeli military said soldiers destroyed two tunnels used for smuggling weapons under the Gaza-Egypt border and blew up the house of local Hamas leader Mahmoud Abu Shamala.
In a statement, the military said Palestinians attacked the Israelis with firearms, explosives and anti-tank rockets, and soldiers returning fire hit some of the Palestinians. The Israelis pulled out before daybreak, the statement said.
The Israeli army knocked out electricity in part of the camp, witnesses said. Rafah Mayor Said Zourab said undercover soldiers raided homes and troops were in control of most of the camp.
Palestinians said ambulances could not enter the camp, and all the casualties arrived at the hospital in private vehicles.
In an incident later Sunday morning in the West Bank, a Palestinian was killed by Israeli troops after throwing a Molotov cocktail. The incident occurred near the village of Azoun, in the Qalqilyah area.
Also in the West Bank, two Israeli soldiers were lightly wounded and an Israeli security guard was moderately hurt Saturday evening when a Palestinian opened fire on a security guard at Shaked settlement, northwest of Jenin. The Palestinian was later killed by the soldiers.
Also Saturday, efforts to form a new Palestinian government ran into problems when the prime minister-designate, Mahmoud Abbas, stormed out of a meeting with Yasser Arafat and top aides, a Palestinian official said.
Abbas and Arafat have been at odds over the role of former Gaza security chief Mohammed Dahlan, who had been tapped by Abbas as minister of state for internal affairs, a position that would have some control over security matters. Arafat has suggested retaining incumbent Hani al-Hassan, a longtime aide.
After about an hour of discussions, Abbas left the meeting and threatened to resign unless his choices were accepted, a senior Palestinian official said, according to AP.
(Albawaba.com)
