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Photo: AP
Mourners call for revenge for IDF killing of 4 Jihad members
Photo: AP

Gaza mourners vow Qassam barrage

Palestinian groups vow to continue Qassam fire into Israel during funeral of members of Qassam cell killed by IDF on Monday; However, factions admit to need to take into account 'new Israeli deployment'

Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip vowed to continue firing Qassam rockets into Israel on Tuesday, less than a day after four Islamic Jihad members were killed and eight were wounded in an IDF ground operation backed by helicopters.

 

"Despite the IDF's operation, we will continue to fire rockets whenever the need arises to respond to Israeli crimes," Abu Ahmed, a senior member of the al-Aqsas Martyrs' Brigades, told Ynet at the funeral of the killed men.

 

"It is true that the loss is harsh and that that was the first operation of the Israeli army in our territory, which means it may become their permanent action plan, but no way will we stop the rocket fire. Although we have to take into account a new Israeli deployment and the continuation of ground operations," he said.

 

Abu Ahmed said Israel's first ground operation in Gaza since the withdrawal from there last August is meant to prove the IDF has a third option, besides air strikes and artillery fire, in the fight against Qassam attacks.

 

Policemen: There was nothing we could do

 

Policemen serving near the scene of Tuesday's operation admitted they were helpless in the face of Islamic Jihad gunmen who entered an empty field in Beit Lahiya and tried to launch Qassams into Israel.

 


Gaza funeral Tuesday (Photo: AP)

 

"Gunmen come here to fire anew each time, ignoring our warnings. They know our leadership issued instructions to avoid confrontation with them, so they keep coming here and fire. This time the Israelis decided to enter the area and set up an ambush near where they fire from. There was a sniper with the Israelis who killed someone with every shot. Three shots left three dead," policemen said.

 

A yellow and black sea of hundreds of Islamic Jihad gunmen and supporters took part in the funeral of the three gunmen at the Shati refugee camp, firing in the air and calling for revenge. Booms caused by IDF artillery fire at Qassam launch pads in the northern Gaza were heard during the funeral.

 

Eight people injured in Tuesday's operation, including paramedics and a journalist, remain in a Gaza hospital.

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.30.06, 21:09
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