Gaza City, Jan 24: A Palestinian was seriously injured as an Israeli helicopter fired missiles at targets in Gaza City, causing heavy damage to a Christian chapel, a metal workshop and several other buildings, Palestinian medical and security sources told a news agency. During the raid, in which eight missiles were fired at the south-eastern Zeitoun district of the city, abed Nasrallah, 18, sustained serious injuries from Sharpnel, medical sources said.

A Christian chapel, situated in the Al-Ahli hospital compound, and a large metal workshop were badly damaged, and a five-storey building was destroyed, security sources said. Several houses in the surrounding area also sustained heavy damage in the blast.

The building belonged to Masoud Ayaad, a former member of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement who was killed several months ago by Israeli forces, the sources said.

Shortly before the raid, troops moved into the building and arrested five members of the Ayaad family, including Masoud's brother, said, who belongs to the Palestinian intelligence services, they said. Just before the strike, some 20 Israeli tanks and jeeps moved into the area, backed by a helicopter and a bulldozer, security sources said.

An Israeli military spokesman confirmed the activity, saying troops were involved in a "counter-terrorism operation" in the area.

Bureau Report