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World Jewish News
Palestinians: 2 killed in IAF strike on Gaza tunnel
05.05.2009
Palestinian medical workers on Saturday said that the bodies of two Palestinians have been found inside a tunnel in the Gaza Strip bombed in an Israel Air Force strike earlier in the day.
The men believed killed in the air strike were the first fatalities in Israeli-Palestinian fighting in about two months.
The IAF on Saturday targeted three weapons-smuggling tunnels in the Gaza-Egypt border town of Rafah in response to a bombardment of Qassam and mortar fire from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Friday and Saturday.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed it had launched several air strikes near Rafah, but had no further comment.
Israel resumed air strikes on Friday on tunnels used for smuggling into the Gaza Strip, after a nearly two-month hiatus in fighting.
Israel said three mortars were fired at Israel from the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday, causing no casualties. Israel Radio reported that the Color Red early warning system did not activate when the mortars were fired, thus no siren was heard in the region.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for the attack in which no Israelis were injured, Israel Radio said.
Meanwhile, Palestinian sources said Israel Defense Forces tanks fired shells at farmland that sits east of Jabalya, Israel Radio reported on Saturday. There were no reports of casualties.
Palestinians also said that IDF bulldozers and jeeps entered the Gaza Strip, reaching the northeastern outskirts of Beit Lahiya, according to Israel Radio.
Sources also said IDF troops fired gunshots in the direction of Palestinian farmers in the south Gaza Strip, just east of Khan Younis. The IDF said in response that the gunfire was meant to deter farmers from approaching the security fence along the Gaza-Israel border, according to Israel Radio.
Israel Air Force aircraft on Friday bombed two smuggling tunnels along Egypt's border with the Gaza Strip, in response to a Qassam fired by militants from coastal territory the previous day, and which hit the western Negev.
The rocket, which struck an open field, was the first to hit the Negev after a period of relative calm.
No injuries or damages were reported in the strike.
There was also no word of casualties from the IAF response, which targeted tunnels on the Philadelphi Route.
The IDF reported a precise hit on the tunnels and said all Israeli aircraft returned safely to their bases.
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and News Agencies
Источник: Haaretz
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