Dair El-Balah Camp Hit By Rocket Fire; 42 Injured

Monday August 02, 2010 16:29 by Circarre Parrhesia - IMEMC & Agencies

Rocket fire has hit the home of a member of the Hamas movement in Dair El-Balah refugee camp, central Gaza, injuring 42 civilians; there were no deaths.

Medical sources in Gaza have claimed that the state of Israel is the source of the attack, using a surface to surface missile, yet Israel is denying any involvement.

In other news, the coastal towns of Eilat, in Israel, and Aqaba in Jordan, 10km apart on either side of the border, have also come under rocket fire, reportedly coming from the direction of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt.

One rocket struck Eilat, causing damage but no injuries, and another struck Aqaba leaving one dead and four others injured.

Three further rockets landed in the Gulf of Aqaba; two in Israeli territory, and one in Jordanian waters.

Israel has stated that their military and domestic police forces are investigating the incident, as are the Jordanians, with al-Jazeera’s Nisreen el-Shamaeyleh speculating on the possibility of a joint operation between agencies from both countries.

Medics: Israeli airstrike injures 42 in Gaza

Published yesterday (updated) 02/08/2010 18:32

Gaza – Ma'an –

Israeli occupation forces warplanes targeted the home of a senior Hamas military leader in the central Gaza Strip early Monday leaving 42 civilians injured, medics said.

Al-Qassam Brigades leader Alaa Ad-Danaf's home in Dair El-Balah was destroyed along with five others by a missile from an Israeli F16 fighter jet, military medical services coordinator Adham Abu Salmiya told Ma'an.

At least 42 civilians were injured as a result, he added, with wounds ranging from slight to moderate.

The Israeli occupation army denied involvement, with an Israeli military spokeswoman saying there was no army or air force activity overnight.

On Saturday morning, an Al-Qassam leader was killed in an Israeli airstrike, which the Israeli army said came in response to projectile fire.

The latest blast follows a weekend of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, with residents saying the raids were reminiscent of Israel's Operation Cast Lead between December 2008 and January 2009.

Rights group: Silence over airstrikes spurs impunity

Published yesterday (updated) 02/08/2010 17:30

Bethlehem - Ma'an -

Palestinian rights group Al-Mezan warned Monday that the international community’s silence over Israel’s escalation of attacks on Gaza encourages Israel to violate international law with impunity, a statement read.

The human rights center conducted field investigations of the damage caused by the weekend’s airstrikes, which killed one Palestinian and injured more than 21, and damaged 30 houses and institutions.

A series of aerial attacks overnight on Friday hit the former presidential compound east of Gaza City, while a separate attack on the central Gaza Strip killed Issa Abdul-Hadi Al-Batran, 41. Al-Batran had lost his wife and five of his children in an airstrike in January 2009 during Israel’s war on the Strip.

The same night, Israeli warplanes fired missiles at the Gaza-Egypt border in Rafah.

Israel continued to launch missiles at Rafah on Sunday morning, while an aerial attack east of Khan Younis injured one civilian.

The Israeli military said the raids were in response to projectiles launched into Israel from the coastal enclave.

Monday morning, medics reported that 42 civilians were injured by a missile fired by an Israeli F16 fighter jet, however an Israeli military spokeswoman said there was no army or air force activity overnight.

Al-Mezan called for international intervention to protect the civilian population of Gaza against Israeli attacks, which residents have said are reminiscent of Operation Cast Lead.