Palestinians: Elderly woman killed by IDF fire

(VIDEO) 75-year-old Amalah Najer is 26th Palestinian casualty in Gaza since Wednesday, according to Palestinian reports. News agencis: 16 casualties were armed gunmen. IDF: Civilians were warned to stay away from rocket launch sites where army operating

Reuters | Published: 07.27.06, 11:02

VIDEO - Palestinian sources reported Thursday morning that a 75-year-old woman was killed by shrapnel from an Israeli tank shell fired toward her house in the Jabaliya area in northern Gaza.

The elderly woman was identified as Amalah Najer. Her two sons sustained moderate shrapnel wounds.

The IDF said it was checking the report but confirmed it fired towards an area from which Qassams were fired at Israel and that civilians had been cautioned to leave the area.

IDF strike in Jabaliya (Video: Reuters) (רויטרס)

Earlier Palestinians reported that Asama Uqal, 33, died of wounds sustained from IDF gunfire, shortly after her two daughters, 2.5-year-old Shahad and 5-year-old Mary, were killed when a shell directly hit their home.

Sixteen of the 26 Palestinians killed in the deadliest day of fighting in Gaza since Israel’s withdrawal last summer, were identified as gunmen by their respective groups. Dozens more were wounded.

"This is a horrible situation, and we urge the international community to notice the continuing Israeli escalation in Gaza immediately," Palestinian lawmaker Saeb Erekat said, complaining that the Lebanon conflict has distracted attention from the Gaza fighting.

Owing to the continued IDF attacks in Gaza and the high death toll, the Palestinian factions declared they would continue firing rockets into Israel.

The Islamic Jihad even called on Palestinian organizations to renew suicide attacks within Israel in addition to the rocket attacks.