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IDF attack in Gaza (archives)
Photo: Reuters

7 Palestinians wounded in IAF strikes

Israeli air strikes on Hamas weapon sheds in Gaza Strip leave 7 Palestinians wounded; hospital officials say pregnant woman, child among injured. IDF: Secondary explosions prove buildings used to store munitions

Israel launched two more air strikes on suspected Gaza gunmen on Wednesday which wounded seven people, including a pregnant woman and a child, hospital officials and residents of the northern part of the coastal strip said.

 

The attacks took place in Gaza City, and the Gaza neighborhood of Jabaliya.

 

An Israeli army spokeswoman confirmed an aircraft had fired missiles into a building used to store munitions in Jabaliya, and that secondary explosions were observed. The IDF said that this proved the building was full of explosives. 

 

The air strikes came after Palestinians continued to launch Qassam rockets into Israel on Tuesday, and a total of seven rockets landed in the western Negev, causing no injuries.

 

Israel said on Tuesday it could target Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas and a Gaza ground offensive was possible unless world pressure was brought on the Islamist group to halt rocket fire aimed at the Jewish state.

 

The threat caused the postponement of a meeting between Haniyeh and President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, who arrived in Gaza to discuss the restoration of law and order and perhaps resuming a Gaza truce with Israel, an Abbas aide said.

 

Hamas officials said they were wary that Israel could target Haniyeh on his way to or from the meeting with Abbas.

 

The Abbas aide added that the meeting between the two would most likely take place later on Wednesday when the president was expected to meet with officials from all Palestinian factions in an effort to restore calm following internal strife.

 

At least 49 Palestinians have been killed in fighting between Hamas and Fatah since they formed a unity government in March, though a ceasefire declared on Sunday seems to be holding. The EU said it feared Gaza could slide into civil war.

 

He said Abbas would possibly also try to persuade the factions to cease their rocket fire into Israel in order to get Israel to stop the air strikes which continued sporadically through the early hours of Wednesday.

 

AFP contributed to this report

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.23.07, 02:16
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