IAF hits gunmen in 3 Gaza strikes

Palestinians: Three dead, including 13-year-old boy; IDF confirms strikes, says it targeted Kassam crews.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, AP
Hawara terror 248.88 (photo credit: Channel 2)
Hawara terror 248.88
(photo credit: Channel 2)
IAF aircrafts launched at least three attacks on Palestinians Tuesday, killing three Palestinians, including a 13-year-old boy, according to Palestinian sources. The IDF confirmed that an aircraft struck a Kassam launching squad shortly after its members fired two rockets at the western Negev. No casualties or damage were reported in the Kassam attack, in which two rockets landed in open areas near Sderot. One rocket landed near a kibbutz, Israel Radio reported. Palestinian doctors said that a boy, 13, was decapitated and another youth was seriously injured. A witness said he saw a mobile rocket-launching stand in the area. Meanwhile, in another strike, IAF aircraft fired at Palestinians who were planting explosives along the fence in central Gaza. Palestinian doctors said one man, 32, was killed. His identity was not immediately known. In an apparent third IDF attack south of Gaza City, three people were wounded, Hamas said. The army did not immediately comment. Hamas reported that one of its fighters was killed and two wounded in the third attack, on the south side of Gaza City. The Israeli military said that its aircraft struck at a group of armed men in that area. On Monday night, a 20-year-old Palestinian terrorist was killed by IDF soldiers at the Hawara checkpoint south of Nablus. The IDF said that the Palestinian approached the checkpoint behaving in a suspicious manner and set off a metal detector numerous times, even when asked to remove objects from his person. According to the army's account, the soldiers subsequently ordered the Palestinian to remain still. However, the man slowly moved his hands in the direction of an explosive belt and consequently, the troops shot and killed him, said the army. The IDF went on to say that the attempted suicide attack was part of an "ongoing assault by Palestinian terrorists on Israel," noting that the IDF arrested 19 Palestinian terror suspects on Monday and that Palestinian terrorists were continuing to launch Kassam rockets at Israel from Gaza.