IDF kills 5 Palestinians in Tulkarm raid
IDF kills 5 Palestinians in Tulkarm raid
By MARGOT DUDKEVITCH
Five Palestinians were killed by IDF gunfire after midnight Wednesday during a raid to capture fugitives in Tulkarm.
The army said that soldiers of an elite Duvdevan unit surrounded a coffeehouse and called on the fugitives inside to surrender. Soldiers fired warning shots in the air, after which the fugitives as well as other gunmen on the scene opened fire at troops.
A firebomb and an explosive device were thrown at troops. In the exchange of gunfire four Palestinians were killed and a fifth died shortly after of his wounds.
Palestinians claim that only two of the dead were fugitives affiliated with the Islamic Jihad while the other three were teenagers, ranging in age from 16 to 18.
The Islamic Jihad and the Al-Aksa Martyrs' Brigades have threatened to exact a "painful revenge" for the deaths of the five Palestinians.
"This episode will not pass without a response," Islamic Jihad leader Muhammad al-Hindi said Thursday morning.
A Hamas spokesman said the revenge could take a variety of forms "in order to teach the enemy a lesson," Army Radio quoted.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei condemned an Israeli raid that killed five Palestinians in the West Bank as a "brutal crime."
"The brutal crime in Tulkarm shows that Israel does not want calm," Qurei said outside his office.
The army said all those killed were armed, and at least three of them were wanted senior members of the Islamic Jihad who were in close contact with the Hizbullah. The cell received money and orders from Hizbullah operatives and were involved in plotting numerous attacks in Israel.
The target of the raid was Adel el-Rawi, 30, a senior member of the Islamic Jihad involved in numerous bombings including the suicide bombs attacks at the Stage Club in Tel Aviv, the suicide bomber who blew up across from a Netanya mall and the simultaneous attack in Shavei Shomron.
.To See pictures of the stage club suicide attack click here
The raid was also to capture Majdi Hassin, 28, a member of the Islamic Jihad and Fatah Tanzim.
The two others that were killed were also armed and opened fire on troops, the army said.
The IDF described el-Rawi as "a ticking bomb" and said that the operation succeeded in thwarting attempts to launch suicide bomb attacks in Israel in the near future.
Senior IDF officers noted that ever since security authority in Tulkarm was handed over to the Palestinians, the city has turned into a haven for terrorists planning attacks against Israel.
With AP.
By MARGOT DUDKEVITCH
Five Palestinians were killed by IDF gunfire after midnight Wednesday during a raid to capture fugitives in Tulkarm.
The army said that soldiers of an elite Duvdevan unit surrounded a coffeehouse and called on the fugitives inside to surrender. Soldiers fired warning shots in the air, after which the fugitives as well as other gunmen on the scene opened fire at troops.
A firebomb and an explosive device were thrown at troops. In the exchange of gunfire four Palestinians were killed and a fifth died shortly after of his wounds.
Palestinians claim that only two of the dead were fugitives affiliated with the Islamic Jihad while the other three were teenagers, ranging in age from 16 to 18.
The Islamic Jihad and the Al-Aksa Martyrs' Brigades have threatened to exact a "painful revenge" for the deaths of the five Palestinians.
"This episode will not pass without a response," Islamic Jihad leader Muhammad al-Hindi said Thursday morning.
A Hamas spokesman said the revenge could take a variety of forms "in order to teach the enemy a lesson," Army Radio quoted.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei condemned an Israeli raid that killed five Palestinians in the West Bank as a "brutal crime."
"The brutal crime in Tulkarm shows that Israel does not want calm," Qurei said outside his office.
The army said all those killed were armed, and at least three of them were wanted senior members of the Islamic Jihad who were in close contact with the Hizbullah. The cell received money and orders from Hizbullah operatives and were involved in plotting numerous attacks in Israel.
The target of the raid was Adel el-Rawi, 30, a senior member of the Islamic Jihad involved in numerous bombings including the suicide bombs attacks at the Stage Club in Tel Aviv, the suicide bomber who blew up across from a Netanya mall and the simultaneous attack in Shavei Shomron.
.To See pictures of the stage club suicide attack click here
The raid was also to capture Majdi Hassin, 28, a member of the Islamic Jihad and Fatah Tanzim.
The two others that were killed were also armed and opened fire on troops, the army said.
The IDF described el-Rawi as "a ticking bomb" and said that the operation succeeded in thwarting attempts to launch suicide bomb attacks in Israel in the near future.
Senior IDF officers noted that ever since security authority in Tulkarm was handed over to the Palestinians, the city has turned into a haven for terrorists planning attacks against Israel.
With AP.
posted by solitarioh2005 @ 9:04 AM
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