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Hamas activists, Israeli soldier killed in gunbattle
Jerusalem, Aug 08: Two Hamas activists and an Israeli soldier were killed today in a gun fight and explosion in a bomb-making unit near Nablus, threatening the fragile peace process as the militant outfit immediately swore to avenge the deaths of its members.
Jerusalem, Aug 08: Two Hamas activists and an Israeli soldier were killed today in a gun fight and explosion in a bomb-making unit near Nablus, threatening the fragile peace process as the militant outfit immediately swore to avenge the deaths of its members.
Israeli soldiers, who entered the Askar refugee camp this morning to arrest Palestinian terrorists belonging to Hamas came under intense automatic weapons fire from a three-storied building, the military sources said.
One Israeli soldier was killed in the attack while the others returned fire killing one Hamas activist.
At one point, an explosion went off, bringing down most of the building and burying the second Hamas activist, reports said. The military denied initial reports that an anti-tank missile had been fired into the building.
It said the building, which was later completely destroyed by the soldiers, contained dozens of kilograms of explosives. A Hamas spokesman said that the Israeli action was a violation of the cease-fire declared by major Palestinian groups from June 29 and the militant group would not remain "silent" about the killing of its activists.
But Israeli intelligence officials said that even after the declaration of cease-fire, Palestinian groups were making efforts to smuggle weapons into Palestinian authority autonomous areas from Egypt and other areas.
Bureau Report
One Israeli soldier was killed in the attack while the others returned fire killing one Hamas activist.
At one point, an explosion went off, bringing down most of the building and burying the second Hamas activist, reports said. The military denied initial reports that an anti-tank missile had been fired into the building.
It said the building, which was later completely destroyed by the soldiers, contained dozens of kilograms of explosives. A Hamas spokesman said that the Israeli action was a violation of the cease-fire declared by major Palestinian groups from June 29 and the militant group would not remain "silent" about the killing of its activists.
But Israeli intelligence officials said that even after the declaration of cease-fire, Palestinian groups were making efforts to smuggle weapons into Palestinian authority autonomous areas from Egypt and other areas.
Bureau Report