Two Palestinians were killed Thursday night in an Israeli missile strike on a car in Gaza City. One of the victims was identified as Adnan al Ghoul, 43, who was considered No. 2 in Hamas military wing - the Ezedeen al Qassam Brigades. Israel said al Ghoul was Hamas's leading explosives expert in the Gaza Strip.
The other dead was identified as Emad Abbas, a well known aide of al Ghoul.
Hamas spokesman Musher al-Masri confirmed al Ghoul's death, saying "It's a new crime committed by the Zionist occupation government against one of the leaders of the Palestinian resistance."
In August 2001, Israel assassinated Adnan's son, Bilal in Gaza Strip.
The Israeli attack came hours after an explosive device detonated near Israeli troops along the Gaza Strip-Egypt border, Israel's Army Radio reported. One soldier was wounded, but later died of his injuries. Hamas claimed responsibility for the blast.
Early Thursday morning, Israeli soldiers killed two Palestinians near the border fence in the northern Gaza Strip.
The two Palestinians were spotted crawling toward the border fence under cover of fog, Israel Radio reported. Israel soldiers shot them dead.
Meanwhile, a 31-year old Palestinian died Thursday of wounds sustained by Israeli fire last week. Muhammad Zaki Abu Khalil was injured by Israeli fire in the Gaza Strip refugee camp of Jabalya.
In the West Bank city of Qalqilia, the Israeli army demolished early Thursday the houses of two Islamic Jihad activists who, according to Israeli sources, participated in shooting attacks in the area. (albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
