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Israeli Helicopters Attack Gaza, Injuring 55
Israeli helicopter gunships Tuesday evening bombed selected targets of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) in the Gaza Strip, leaving at least 55 people wounded.
Palestinian officials called for international protection following the strikes, which were in retaliation for Palestinian mortar attacks on an Israeli settlement in southern Gaza earlier in the day.
The air strikes started at 8:15 p.m. (1815 GMT) and lasted about fifteen minutes.
About 20 rockets were fired at the Rafah crossing area between Egypt and Gaza, where a base of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's personal guard Force 17 is located.
The gunships also bombed a Palestinian intelligence and security apparatus in the Khan Yunis area in southern Gaza and Palestinian Naval Headquarters in the Gaza City, Palestinian sources said.
The area around the PNA Presidential residence in the Gaza City was also under attack. Initial reports said that at least 55 people were injured.
Following the air strikes, Israeli tanks fired shells at the positions of Force 17 near the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Israeli officials said that the air raids were launched in response to Palestinian mortar attacks Tuesday afternoon at an Israeli settlement of Atzmon in southern Gaza, wounding three settlers, including a woman and her 10-month-old baby who was in critical condition.
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office issued a statement on Tuesday, condemning the "shocking attack" on the settlers and accusing the PNA of "not working to prevent attacks."
Israel has no choice but to act tenaciously and vigorously to frustrate terrorist attacks and protect Israeli citizens' security, the statement said.
In reaction to the Israeli air strikes, the second in a week, Palestinian Culture and Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said that the escalation on the Israeli side would lead to a deterioration of the situation and more confrontation between the two sides.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's secretary Tayeb Abdel Rahim said the attack shows Israeli side has no red lines and uses all kinds of weapons against the unarmed Palestinian people.
He went on to call on Arab and international forces to support the right of the Palestinian people to international protection in the face of this continuing aggression.
Last Wednesday, Israeli air force bombed Palestinian targets in the West Bank city of Ramallah and Gaza in the wake of a series of Palestinian bombing attacks against Israelis. The air strikes killed two Palestinians and injured several others.
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