Hours after two Israeli officers were killed in a gunbattle with Palestinian fighters in the central Gaza Strip, some 40 tanks and armored vehicles moved into the Rafah refugee camp on the Gaza Strip-Egypt border early Tuesday, Palestinians said.
Six Palestinians were killed and 20 others were wounded during an Israeli invasion in block ”O” of the refugee camp, Palestinian medical sources in Rafah stated. Five of those killed were identified as Ayed Ibrahim Al Najar ,24, his Cousin, Ali Hussein Al Najar,26, Khalil Mohammed Al Qasas, 50, Khameis Al Rai’, 23, and Ahmed Al Najar,32.
The director of Abu Yousif Al Najjar hospital, Dr. Ali Mousa, said that the Palestinian medical crews were having difficulties in evacuating the wounded due to the intensive gunfire.
Eyewitnesses said that a Palestinian security officer was shot dead by Israeli fire on the Rafah border crossing. They added that Ahmad Al Najjar, a lieutenant in the Palestinian security forces, was organizing the incoming and outgoing traffic to the busy border crossing when he suddenly fell to the ground. Bystanders and passengers gathered around him and found out that he has a bullet hole in his head.
An Israeli source said the soldiers entered Rafah "as part of a continuous fight" to find and destroy a series of smuggling tunnels through which explosives were brought in from Egypt.
The two Israeli officers were killed Monday evening in an attack in the southern Gaza Strip. A grenade was fired at them at the Gush Katif junction, reports said. Fatah's Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and the Islamic Jihad claimed this attack.
Israeli media said one Palestinian was killed in the exchange of gunfire that followed. Palestinian sources said four Palestinians were wounded.
A short time later, a shooting attack was reported in the West Bank city of Hebron. One Israeli policeman was injured in this attack, Israeli reports said. (Albawaba.com)
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