Four Fighters Killed In Gaza

Monday June 07, 2010 13:20 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian medical sources reported, Monday at dawn, that four fighters were killed by Israeli occupation forces fire near the Gaza coast.

The attack was carried out approximately at 4:30am, at dawn, as the Israeli occupation naval ships opened heavy fire targeting the coast as some fighters were training on diving skills.

Dr. Mu'awiya Hassanain, head of the Emergency Department at the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, stated that the four were killed by Israeli Navy fire, and that they were near the coast of Al Zahra’, south of Gaza City.

Dr. Hassanain added that a fifth fighter remains missing, while another fighter suffered mild injuries.

The bodies of the four slain fighters were moved to the al-Aqsa Hospital in Gaza City; their bodies were riddled with gunshots, medical sources reported.

The Qatar-based al-Jazeera tv reported that the fighters are members of the Ayman Joudah Brigades that belongs to the Al-Aqsa brigades, the armed wing of Fat'h movement.

The four slain fighters were identified as Muhammed Thabit, 20, Ibrahim Al-Wahidy, 25, Fayiz Al-Feeny, 21, and Muhammed Quwaider, 28.

Israel fire kills 4 Palestinians on Gaza coast, air strike hits Jabalia

Published today (updated) 07/06/2010 18:29

Gaza - Ma'an -

One man was injured in an Israeli occupation forces air strike on the Jabalia area of northern Gaza, and a second by Israeli fire near Erez only hours after Israeli occupation forces warships shot dead four members of Fatah's armed wing off the Gaza coast early Monday morning.

The strike injured one and damaged nearby buildings. The strike hit less than six kilometers away from the site of an on-water attack by Israeli naval forces.

Eyewitnesses said an Israeli drone fired a missile at a group of people east of Jabaliy, while spokesman for Gaza's medical services Adham Abu Silmiyya identified the injured man as 25-year-old Ahmad Salah.

A statement from the military said that "Direct hits were identified" following the strike.

At the Erez crossing, witnesses said they saw a man collecting cement particles at the Gaza border near the Erez crossing shot by Israeli forces, and called medics to rescue the victim, which was confirmed by medics.

The worker was identified by Rami Muhanna, the head of the Kamal Udwan Hospital's public relations department, as 45-year-ol Adham Kafarna.

The worker was said to have sustained moderate wounds as a result of a gunshot to the foot.

At sea, Palestinian sources said that in addition to the four dead, one member of Fat'h's Al-Aqsa Brigades went missing, while two - including a high-profile leader - survived and escaped.

Witnesses said Israel's navy targeted a Palestinian boat near Al-Nussairat in northern Gaza, while an Israeli army spokesman said forces fired on what he said was a "squad" of fighters in the same area. There were no casualties among Israel's forces, he said.

Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ahmad Al-Ashi identified the victims as 21-year-old Fayiz Al-Feeni from Jabaliya refugee camp, 34-year-old Muhammad Quwaider from Gaza City, 25-year-old Ibrahim Al-Wahidy from the port area, and 20-year-old Hamid Thabit from Nusseirat refugee camp.

All bodies were evacuated to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Al-Ashi said.