Israeli forces botch assassination attempt in Gaza and injure five civilians

Palestinians inspect the damage to a homeafter the Israeli air strike (MaanImages)

24 July 2007

Gaza – Ma'an – Five Palestinian citizens were injured on Tuesday when an Israeli helicopter fired a missile at a civilian car on the An Nasser crossroad in the centre of Gaza City.

Eyewitnesses said that the missile missed the car and hit the upper story of an empty house, damaging the house irreparably. Neighbouring houses were also damaged, including an orphanage.

Director of the ambulance and emergency department in the Palestinian ministry of health, Dr Dr. Muawiya Hassanein, said that medical staff treated eleven patients who had gone into shock following the attack.

Four citizens, who had sustained serious injuries, were transferred to Ash Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

Survivor

The military wing of Islamic Jihad, the Al Quds Brigades, said that the attack targeted one of their prominent leaders. The spokesperson for the brigades, Abu Ahmad, said that the targeted leader was unharmed and was taken to a safe location.

Abu Ahmad reiterated the brigades' intention to continue resisting the occupation and targeting Israeli towns bordering the Gaza Strip, especially in light of the frequent Israeli targeted killings of Al Quds Brigades activists.