Three Hamas fighters killed in clashes with Israeli forces in Gaza

8 August 2007

Gaza – Ma'an – Two members of the military wing of Hamas, the Qassam Brigades, were killed by Israeli forces, east of Gaza City, on Wednesday morning.

Eyewitnesses said that intensive shooting was heard in the area and armed confrontations erupted between Israeli Special Forces and Palestinian resistance fighters.

23-year-old Fadi Irqaiq and Mohammad Batniji, aged 19, were killed in the clashes. Both men were from the Shujaiya area of the Gaza Strip.

The two corpses were transported to Ash Shifa Hospital.

The Qassam Brigades said they are in mourning for the two men.

The brigades issued a statement announcing that the clashes lasted for forty-five minutes and the brigades were able to launch mortar projectiles at the Israeli forces east of Gaza City.

Third death

Palestinian citizen, Ikrami Abu Amsha, aged 32, was killed and another two injured near Erez Crossing, in the northern Gaza Strip, when Israeli forces shot at them.

Local sources said that the three men who were attacked by the Israeli soldiers are members of Hamas' Executive Force.

Eyewitnesses said that Amsha was shot repeatedly in several parts of his body.

Head of ambulances and emergencies in the Palestinian ministry of health, Dr Muawiya Hassanein, said that assassinated man and the two injured people were transported to Kamal Adwan Hospital in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.