Hamas Holds Egypt Responsible for Killing Four Palestinian Tunnel Workmen

[ 29/04/2010 - 12:26 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

The Movement of Hamas held Egypt fully responsible for the killing of four Palestinian workmen in Rafah area after its security forces pumped poisonous gas into the tunnel they were working in and called for investigating the incident and bringing the culprits to trial.

“We are following with deep concern the developments on the border with the Egyptian side which led to the death of four Palestinian citizens and caused serious injuries to others after the Egyptian security sprayed toxic gas in a tunnel,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told a news conference on Thursday morning.

Spokesman Abu Zuhri said it was not the first time Egypt killed Palestinian workmen in Rafah tunnels, stressing that the tunnels was a necessary step used by the besieged and impoverished Gaza people to meet their daily needs.

The spokesman added that Egypt has to open the Rafah border crossing and allow in food supplies and other vital needs instead of killing Palestinians.

Palestinian medical sources told the Palestinian information center (PIC) on Wednesday evening that four Palestinian tunnel workmen died of suffocation and seven others almost died when Egyptian forces sprayed poisonous gas into their tunnels.

For his part, spokesman for the military medical services in Gaza Adham Abu Salmiya said in a press statement to the PIC that more than 38 Palestinians have been killed so far in the area of tunnels in Rafah as a result of inhaling poisonous gas sprayed by Egyptian forces.

Abu Salmiya noted that Egypt clearly violated the international law which considers the use of lethal gas in civilian areas premeditated murder, adding that Egypt was supposed to lift the siege on Gaza and open the Rafah crossing before patients, medical supplies and important materials needed by Gaza people instead of fighting those who try to procure food for their people.

Four Killed, Nine Wounded, After Being Gassed In Tunnel By Egypt

Thursday April 29, 2010 03:52 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported on Wednesday evening that four Palestinians were killed and nine others were wounded after the Egyptian security forces sprayed a border tunnel with Gas.

The sources identified the slain residents as Mohammad Abu Jamous, 25, his brother Osama, 22, Khaled Al Ramly, 20, and Nidal Al Jady, 20, while nine residents were wounded.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza confirmed that the four were killed after the Egyptian border police sprayed a tunnel with toxins, and denied reports that the tunnel was detonated leading to the death and injury of the residents.

Adham Abu Salima, media correspondent of the Military Medical Services in Gaza, slammed the Egyptian Authority and stated that this act violates the International Law and the basic principles of human rights.

Abu Salima added that instead of being part of the siege on Gaza, Egypt must act to open all border crossings and allow the entry of the urgently needed medical equipment and medications.

He also stated that Egypt must allow the patients to be able to enter the country for medical treatment, and should allow the entry of basic supplies into the coastal region.

The Egyptian authorities stated a wide campaign against all siege-busting tunnels in the Gaza Strip, detonated several tunnels and sprayed other tunnels with toxins and with waste-water.