Five killed as Israel hits Hamas targets in Gaza
Afp, Gaza City
Israeli aircraft again pounded targets in the Gaza Strip yesterday, as the main armed factions discussed a truce call from Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to end "futile" rocket barrages. But Hamas put the onus on Israel for any hope of an end to the rocket fire, demanding that it stop shooting first. And amid the question of presenting a common front toward Israel, a senior Palestinian security chief resigned, underscoring continuing tensions between Abbas's Fatah and Hamas. At least five Palestinians were killed and eight wounded in four air raids mid-morning on buildings used by the paramilitary Executive Force loyal to senior Palestinian coalition partner Hamas, medical sources said. The bodies of three Palestinians were found under the rubble of a building destroyed in one of the attacks, in Zeitun settlement south of Gaza City. Six people were wounded, including three critically, two of whom died later. Two other Executive Force posts were attacked, one in the nearby Shati refugee camp, in which four people were wounded, and the other at Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. A fourth raid targeted a militant training camp at Khan Yunis, also in the south. No casualties were reported. At least 45 Palestinians have been killed in air strikes on Gaza since May 16, which Israel says are aimed at preventing militants from firing rockets into Israel. Those attacks have killed one Israeli and wounded 19. Late Friday, two members of the military wing of Hamas were killed in a missile strike on their vehicle in Gaza City, medical sources said. The strike followed renewed rocket fire -- claimed by Hamas -- against the southern Israeli town of Sderot, in which three civilians were wounded. Also, Israeli aircraft attacked a guardpost at the Gaza home of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, a senior member of Hamas, witnesses said, but the military denied Haniya was the target. Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers arrested a Hamas cabinet minister during an overnight raid in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian sources said. Minister of state Wafsi Qabha was taken from his home during a raid by Israeli troops, his wife and Palestinian security sources said. Israeli forces detained 33 senior Hamas figures in the West Bank on Thursday, including education minister Nassereddin al-Shaer. Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz justified the arrests in the face of international criticism, saying they sent a "message to the military branches of terrorist organisations to stop their rocket fire." The raids have also targeted Hamas's smaller rival, Islamic Jihad.
| 
