One dead, three injured as Israeli forces attack civilians attempting to leave Gaza

Editorial Note: The following news reports may be summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology.

Date: 19 / 06 / 2007 Time: 12:29

Gaza - Ma'an -

One Palestinian was killed and three wounded on Monday night as they attempted to flee the Gaza Strip through Erez Crossing. The Israeli forces opened fire on the crowds that were trying to escape Hamas-controlled Gaza into Israel.

The director general of ambulances and emergencies in the Palestinian health ministry, Dr. Muawiya Hassanein, said that the deceased is 30-year-old Jihad al Madhoun. Jihad is a relative of Samih al Madhoun, a senior Fatah-affiliated Al Aqsa Brigades activist who was killed by Hamas fighters during the recent conflict.

The Israeli soldiers opened fire on the Palestinian civilians while they were waiting in an area known as the 'sleeve' at Erez Crossing. The Gazans were trying to leave through Israel and take up residence in the Palestinian West Bank.

Israeli denial

Israel has denied responsibility for the attack. However, the killed and injured Palestinians were hit with Israeli military bullets.

According to an Israeli investigation, reported in Israeli daily newspaper, Haaretz, on Tuesday, Israeli soldiers came under fire where they were stationed, several hundred metres from the Palestinian civilians. No injuries were reported among the Israeli troops.

Israeli soldiers claimed that they returned fire towards the 'assailants'. Officials from the Israeli forces said that the issue of the assassinated civilian is an internal Palestinian problem, which has nothing to do with the Israeli military.

Israel has now closed Erez Crossing. Palestinians are flocking to the crossings bordering Gaza in order to leave the strip. Analysts predict future financial collapse for Gaza as Israel fully besieges the area.

Human rights organisations have appealed to Israel to reopen the crossings to avoid a humanitarian crisis as food reserves are set to run out within a fortnight and Israeli companies supplying fuel, electricity and water threaten to cease supply to the strip.

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