Eight Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip on Thursday. Seven were killed in northern Gaza Strip.
Troops on patrol in the southern Gaza Strip killed a Palestinian man who was transporting explosive devices, Israel Radio reported Thursday. Another man fled the scene, it added.
In northern Gaza Strip, three Palestinians were shot dead Thursday while launching an anti-tank rocket at Israeli troops, press reports said.
An Israeli tank fired several shells at a group of Palestinians in the town of Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip, on Thursday morning, killing two boys, witnesses said, as the occupation army continued its massive offensive in the area. The two - Raed Abu Zeid and Sleiman Abu al Ful both 14 - were badly burned.
Hospital officials said three other Palestinians were injured in the incident.
For their part, Israeli sources said Thursday that soldiers had fired shells at two Palestinian gunners in the Strip who were trying to a launch homemade rockets into Israel, and confirmed hitting them.
Another Palestinian boy died Thursday of his wounds. According to WAFA, Mohammed Abu Seif, 17, died from wounds sustained earlier this month in Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip. In addition, a resident of Beit Hanun, Luay Hamad died Thursday of wounds sustained four days ago.
In statistics released by the Palestinian National Information Center (PNIC) of the State Information Service (SIS) on Wednesday it was revealed that Israeli occupation forces killed 104 Palestinians and wounded 360 others, including many children, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5. In addition, Israeli forces destroyed 64 homes totally and partially within one week.
PNIC's report also noted that the Israeli forces destroyed a building for the Palestinian security and a presidential guest house in Erez checkpoint, added to the infrastructure of several towns in northern Gaza Strip.
It also showed that severe structural damages were caused to Balsam Hospital near Al Awda residential project, and also to a mosque and a kindergarten east of Jabalia refugee camp.
Meanwhile, Palestinian fighters Thursday fired two Qassam missiles at the Israeli town of Sderot, despite the ongoing military campaign in the northern Gaza Strip areas. Four Israelis suffered from shock. (albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
