Death toll rises to four Palestinians in Beit Hanoun

A number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attack

02 November 2006

BBC Arabic

The number of Palestinian dead who were killed during the Israeli military operation in the area of Beit Hanoun in the Gaza Strip to four while the Israeli forces in the operation which started Thursday morning.

It was at least eight Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were killed yesterday, Wednesday, in violent clashes broke out between Israeli forces and armed Palestinian groups during the incursion a people by the Israeli army in the region.

It was reported that the Israeli army ordered all men over the age of 16 in Beit Hanoun in progress for questioning.

The Israeli spokesman said that this measure is aimed at reducing the shootings.

The army says the operation, which was carried out by a broader Gaza since the Israeli withdrawal from the sector aims to prevent the launching of missiles at Israeli territory and to prevent clashes on the border between Gaza and Israel.

In the largest military operation launched by Israel against Gaza over the past few months the Israeli army three air raids and imposed a siege on the town of Beit Hanoun.

The 40 injured in the military operation carried out by the Israeli army tanks and helicopters backing.

The spokesman said Abu Ubayda media on behalf of the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas Movement, they remain in the firing of the rockets as long as Israel's invasion of Palestinian territories.


The Palestinian leaders strongly condemned the Israeli attack, which he described President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya massacre.

Abbas demanded in a statement that "the occupation government to stop immediately its military operations against our people.

Heavy fighting

The director of a hospital in Beit Hanoun, told Associated Press reported that all stocks of blood at the hospital had been fully depreciated.

The Israeli army confirmed the death of one of its soldiers during a military operation in Gaza a few hours after the announcement that Palestinian armed groups killed Israelis.

The Israeli tanks backed by helicopters have raided Beit Hanoun in the early hours of Wednesday morning amid heavy exchange of fire.

While The French news agency that 60 tanks participated in the attack.

It added that Israeli soldiers took their rooftops during the exchange of fire.

The Israeli bulldozers demolished three houses in Beit Hanoun injured while dozens of houses with tank shells, according to the Agency.

At the same time, reports said that the latest fighting broke out in the Jabalia refugee camp, Palestinians in Beit Lahiya.


Israeli soldier killed in the attack on Beit Hanoun

The Israeli forces had killed two armed members of the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip during clashes occurred near Khan Younis.

It is noteworthy that the Israeli forces launched a military campaign in the sector since last June, when Hamas gunmen carried out an attack on a military base inside Israel, which killed two soldiers and captured a third.