A Palestinian gunman penetrated the Gaza Strip settlement of Atzmona, in the Gush Katif settlement bloc, late Thursday night and began to open fire at a pre-military training academy, killing five settlers and injuring 15 others.
Israeli soliders arrived at the scene engaged the Palestinian in a gunfight. The gunman was killed. Sources added that the Palestinian also threw several hand grenades.
According to preliminary reports, the gunman shot for around fifteen minutes before Israeli soldiers managed to engage him.
At least 15 settlers were injured, including five who sustained serious wounds.
The military wing of Hamas, Iz a Din al-Qassam, claimed responsibility for this attack. The gunman was identified as Muhammad Fathi Farahat, 19.
Ariel
Earlier, a suicide bomber blew himself up Thursday afternoon in the lobby of the "Eshel Hashamron" hotel in the commericial center on the outskirts of the West Bank settlement of Ariel.
At least ten settlers were injured in the blast. One sustained serious injuries, one was moderately injured and the others were lightly injured.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for the attack. Palestinian sources identified the bomber as Shadi Muhammad Nassar, 24, from the village of Madma, located to the south of the West Bank city of Nablus.
Earlier, the Israeli police said they caught a Palestinian bomber in Jerusalem. The Palestinian, who was apparently planning an attack, reportedly set a bag or suitcase containing a large bomb in a popular cafe.
According to Israeli media reports, a massive security contingent arrived on the scene and sealed off the area, dispersing pedestrians about 200 meters from the scene of the cafe. (Albawaba.com)
