Beit Hanoun: Palestinian killed, 3 injured
Palestinians report IDF tank hit homes of several Palestinians in Gaza Strip town, killing 20-year-old Mazen Abu Udah and injuring three other people. IDF says its forces were not involved in incident
According to the Palestinians, an IDF tank fired at least one shell at the Palestinians' houses in Beit Hanoun, killing 20-year-old Mazen Abu Udah and injuring another three people, two of whom sustained critical wounds.
Eyewitnesses and doctors at the hospital reported that Abu Udah's body arrived completely scorched, which also made it difficult to identify the injured.
The Palestinians reported that three members of Abu Udah's family were killed by an IDF shell about two months ago, during a military operation in the area.
Earlier Monday, a Qassam rocket was fired from the northern Gaza Strip toward the western Negev. The rocket landed in an open area near Sderot. There were no reports of injuries or damage.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday during a discussion at the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that "we must operate and we will operate against the Hamas centers in Gaza. We will expand the operation, but we will not remain there for long and permanently."
Olmert added, "Simultaneously, we must prevent a humanitarian disaster in Gaza."
Hanan Greenberg and Shmulik Hadad contributed to the report
