Wednesday: IDF kills 8 Palestinians in Gaza

VIDEO - Palestinian sources in the Gaza Strip reported Wednesday afternoon that a Palestinian boy was killed by Israel Defense Forces soldiers operating in the Sajaiya neighborhood in the Gaza Strip. According to the report, the boy, 14-year-old Nidal Dahdouh, was shot in the head by a sniper. The Palestinians also reported of a 30-year-old man who was shot in his chest by IDF soldiers and was killed on the spot. IDF officials reported that the soldiers fired at gunmen trying to fire an antitank missile at the soldiers. Simultaneously, it was reported that another Palestinian who was shot by soldiers Wednesday afternoon died of his wounds at the hospital. In total, eight Palestinians were killed by IDF fire in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, and 29 were killed since Operation Locked Garden was launched on Saturday night. On Wednesday evening, IDF soldiers hit three armed Palestinians approaching them during an operation in Sajiya. Their condition is still unknown. Simultaneously, the IDF destroyed two Qassam rocket launchers in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. The force destroyed the launchers, which were used to fire a Qassam rocket at Israel on Wednesday. The Palestinian Health Ministry on Wednesday published data on the number of Palestinians killed since the beginning of the IDF's operation in the Gaza Strip at the end of June, following the kidnapping of Corporal Gilad Shalit. According to the ministry's data, 225 Palestinians were killed, including 62 children. Among the casualties, the Palestinians included five people who died because they did not receive medical treatment as a result of the Rafah crossing being closed. The Palestinians also noted that the number of injured reached about 900. Funeral in Sajaiya neighborhood (Photo: AFP) According to Colonel Moni Katz, the commander of the Gaza Strip Northern Division, "at this stage the estimation is that 25 terrorists were killed in Operation Locked Garden." During the operation, which began on Saturday night and was aimed at uncovering the tunnel dug inside the Sajaiya neighborhood, many terrorists have attempted to hit the forces and thus the large number of casualties, he said. Colonel Katz noted that the tunnel, the uncovering of which was cleared for publication Wednesday, was dug out of a room in a plastics plant. "It's a sophisticated tunnel, and it seems that a lot of money has been invested in it. We discovered different equipment in it and we estimate it was built in order to carry out a terror attack under the central building of the Karni crossing," Colonel Katz said. According to Katz, in spite of the fact that the tunnel was exposed there are apparently additional tunnels which are being dug in the area, and therefore it is too early to estimate whether the Karni crossing will reopen after being closed for several weeks. IDF: Tunnel proof of motivation for terror IDF officials reported that soldiers hit more than 40 terrorists during Operation Locked Garden, many of them carrying antitank missiles, Kalashnikov rifles and explosive devices. In spite of the fact that the operation is not a wide-scale operation and includes forces amounting to only one battalion, it appears that the area where they are operating is filled with terrorists and therefore the friction between them and IDF soldiers is high. Tunnel exposed at Karni crossing (Photo: AFP) Colonel Katz noted that "the motivation to carry out attacks in all the terror organizations is still high," adding that the tunnel exposed is proof of that. Operation Locked Garden is the continuation of the Gaza Division and the Southern Command since Operation Summer Rains. The incidents at the Sajaiya neighborhood continued also Wednesday morning, when an IDF force fired a shell at a group attempting to fire an antitank missile. Three of the group members were killed. Later, another two Palestinians were killed, one by IDF fire and the other after being hit by a shell. Two of the casualties were members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, Fatah's military wing. Another casualty was a member of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing. The Palestinians claimed that another three casualties were civilians. In addition, the Palestinians reported that at least 10 people were wounded in Wednesday's incidents, including a five-year-old child whose condition was defined as critical. The Palestinians noted that the IDF did not allow medical crews to evacuate the killed and wounded. Various Palestinian organizations claimed responsibility for the firing of shells and antitank missiles at IDF forces operating in the area. The IDF confirmed only some of the shooting incidents and did not reports of injuries among the soldiers. Ali Waked contributed to the report

Wednesday: IDF kills 8 Palestinians in Gaza

(VIDEO) Twenty-nine Palestinians killed since army launched Operation Locked Garden on Saturday night; one of Wednesday's casualties a 14-year-old boy. IDF commander: Motivation to carry out terror attacks still high in all organizations