IDF kills 2 Palestinians
Two suspects killed near Gaza fence; later, IAF targets Qassam cell members
Two Palestinians were killed by the IDF in separate incidents in the Gaza Strip early Friday.
In one case, a Palestinian who attempted to place an explosive device near the security fence in the vicinity of the Kissufim crossing was shot and killed. Elsewhere, troops fired at four Palestinians near the fence, killing one of them. Another Palestinian, who managed to cross into Israel, was detained and taken in for interrogation.
The Palestinians, however, said all those hurt were unarmed and were trying to enter Israel in order to find work.
Later, the Air Force targeted a two members of a Qassam cell who planned to fire rockets from the Beit Hanoun area in Gaza. It appears the two were able to flee the scene. The army said the vehicle the suspects traveled in apparently contained explosives that caused an explosion.
Palestinian sources said one missile was fired at the vehicle but landed nearby, allowing the two passengers to escape. Seconds later, another missile was fired and completely destroyed the car, the sources said. According to the Palestinians, two passersby, including a child, were hurt in the attack.
On Thursday, IDF troops operating in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus killed at least five Palestinians, including three or four members of the Fatah's al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. The other men killed lobbed Molotov cocktails at the forces, the army said. The Palestinians said they were innocent civilians.
Following the incident, Hamas called on Palestinians to demonstrate in protest of the IDF operation. The designated Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh, said the operation constituted "severe Zionist escalation," while Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas also condemned the IDF and called on the international community to intervene in a bid to restart talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Hanan Greenberg contributed to the report
