Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, March 06, 2003
11 Palestinians Killed in Gaza Operation
A missile fired from an Israeli helicopter killed at least 11 Palestinians on Thursday while they watched firefighters put out a fire in the Jabalya refugee camp in Gaza, witnesses and hospital officials said. More than 100 people were wounded.
A missile fired from an Israeli helicopter killed at least 11 Palestinians on Thursday while they watched firefighters put out a fire in the Jabalya refugee camp in Gaza, witnesses and hospital officials said. More than 100 people were wounded.
The Israeli military operation in Gaza came hours after a Palestinian suicide bombing on a bus in the northern city of Haifa killed 15 Israelis and wounded dozens.
The army did not immediately comment on reports of the missile attack.
A gun battle had erupted in Jabalya during an overnight Israeli operation in the refugee camp, witnesses said, and continued as troops pulled out of the area and withdrew into an alley.
The troops fired tank shells and heavy machine guns. A helicopter hovering overhead fired missiles, hitting a group of people who were watching the firefighters at work.
Earlier, two other Palestinians were killed during the army's operation in Gaza. The army blew up two buildings, including one belonging to a Hamas activist.
The military sweep came as Israelis mourned the 15 passengers killed by the suicide bomber in Wednesday's bus bombing, which ended a two-month lull in suicide bombings. The blast injured 55 people.
About 10 of the victims were high school students among them 14-year-old Avigail Leitner, a U.S. citizen, authorities said. Two soldiers were also killed.