3 Palestinians killed in IDF strike near Haniyeh's house

IAF aircraft fire several missiles at commercial vehicles carrying Palestinian gunmen in Gaza. One of men killed involved in firing rockets at Sderot; one gunman injured. Palestinians report strike took place near home of dismissed Palestinian prime minister of Hamas

Reuters | Published: 01.14.08, 07:06

Three Palestinian gunmen were killed Sunday evening in an Israel Air Force strike near the home of dismissed Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas at the Shati refugee camp. Two of the men were immediately killed in the strike, and a third was injured and died of his wounds later in the night. One other Palestinian was injured in the attack.

The target of the strike was a Mitsubishi commercial vehicle, carrying members of the al-Aqsa Brigades, Fatah's military wing.

The airstrike was a joint operation launched by the IDF and the Shin Bet.

Injured evacuated (Photo: Reuters)

One of the gunmen killed was identified as Nidal Amudi, a senior al-Aqsa Brigades member, who was involved in the firing of Qassam rockets towards the southern town of Sderot.

The second man killed, according to security forces, was Maher Nabhukh, a member of the Palestinian Resistance Committees. Palestinian sources said, however, that Nabhukh was affiliated with the Army of Islam organization, one of the groups involved in the kidnapping of Corporal Gilad Shalit.

The airstrike was carried out near a post housing the security guards of the Hamas leader. At first, eyewitnesses reported that Haniyeh's security post was the strike's target.