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Photo: AP
IDF armored vehicle at Kissufim crossing (archive photo)
Photo: AP
Mahmoud Abbas (archive photo)
Photo: AP

IDF kills 3 Palestinian terrorists in Gaza

Givati Brigade soldiers shoot dead three Hamas gunmen attempting to plant explosive device along Gaza security fence, north of the Kissufim crossing; Palestinian President Abbas, Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal meet Egyptian intelligence chief in Cairo to discuss Qassam rocket attacks on Negev

Soldiers from the Rotem Battalion of the Givati Brigade killed Saturday morning three Palestinian gunmen who were attempting to plant an explosive device along the Gaza security fence, north of the Kissufim crossing.

 

A fourth gunman was severely injured in the incident.

 

Palestinian sources said the gunmen were members of Hamas' Izz el-Din al-Qassam Brigades, but IDF officials said they belonged to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

 

They were named as Abdel Khalim Fiumi, 27, Said Khiles, 21, and Mohammed Suki, 24.

 

Soldiers manning an IDF observation post spotted the gunmen, and the ground troops proceeded to cross the border into the Strip and open fire at the terrorists. The Palestinians, who were armed with Kalashnikov rifles, did not return fire.

 

Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for the Hamas armed wing, said the four gunmen were on a "Jihadist mission when the Zionist enemy opened fire on them."

 

"The occupation has no interest in calm and from our side we say there is no calm for free. The Zionist enemy will be punished for their crimes," he said.

 

The Israeli government has authorized the IDF to operate inside Palestinian territory against terrorists.

 

Close to 60 explosive devices have been placed along the Gaza security fence since the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian organizations went into effect in November 2006 and dozens of terrorists have been killed.

 

Palestinian sources later reported that 22-year-old Shadi Abu Zahar was killed by an artillery shell fired by the IDF toward the Khan Younis area in south Gaza.

 

The IDF has denied the report.

 

Meanwhile, in the West Bank Palestinians opened fire at IDF soldiers operating in Nablus during the early hours of Saturday morning; no injuries were reported.

 

Soldiers apprehended four wanted terror suspects in Hebron and in the Ramallah area.

 

'Israel will not hesitate'

The London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper reported that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal met in Cairo with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman overnight.

 

Suleiman invited the two for an urgent discussion regarding an Israeli letter asking the Egyptians to pressure the Palestinians to immediately halt the Qassam rocket fire, in light of Israel's declaration that it would otherwise launch an offensive in the Strip.

 

Last Wednesday a three-hour security assessment meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office following a massive rocket attack on the western Negev and an attempt to kidnap a soldier on Independence Day.

 

Following the meeting, which was attended by Defense Minister Amir Peretz, Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh, and IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned that a large-scale offensive may take place, but so far no decision was made on any operative steps.

 

“Due to the sequence of events, Israel will not hesitate to take harsh steps against those attempting to harm its sovereignty by firing missiles at our territory, by attempting to hurt soldiers and through other means," one official said.

 

Ali Waked and Reuters contributed to the report  

 


פרסום ראשון: 04.28.07, 08:49
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