...

Rocket hits shopping centre in Israeli city of Ashkelon

Israel Materials 14 May 2008 21:40 (UTC +04:00)

A Palestinian rocket fired from the Gaza Strip directly struck a shopping mall in the southern Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon, injuring at least 14 people, Israeli media reported.
A mother and her toddler daughter were among the injured and in serious and moderate condition, first aid officials said. At least two other people were also said to be hit by shrapnel, while a number of Israelis were treated for shock.
The rocket penetrated the roof of the shopping mall on the third floor, witnesses said.
The Grad-type Katyusha rocket was fired from the area of Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said.
The launch came after fighting between Israeli troops and local militants in the southern and northern Gaza Strip left at least four Palestinians dead Wednesday morning.
The witnesses said several Israeli army tanks and bulldozers, backed by aircraft, rolled crossed over Israel's border with southern Gaza and approached the village of Abbassan, east of Khan Younis. They were confronted by intensive gunfire from local militants.
Israeli aircraft launched two strikes on the gunmen during the fighting.
The Israeli military incursion came in response to earlier rocket attacks from the Strip, with a military spokeswoman in Tel Aviv saying calling it a "routine" operation against militants launching the missiles
The radical Islamic Hamas movement ruling Gaza, and the Islamic Jihad, an Islamic opposition group, said their their militants launched homemade mortars, detonated roadside bombs and hurled hand grenades at the Israeli army forces. Two of their men were killed in the fighting in southern Gaza.
In the northern Strip, meanwhile, two militants were shot dead and two more wounded in clashes north-east of Jabalia, as Israeli tanks and bulldozers entered the area.
Initial reports said the Islamic Jihad claimed credit for launching the Grad missile at Ashkelon. The group earlier said it would not abide by a truce being mediated by Egypt.
"As a pillar of resistance in Palestine, the movement will not again accept a free or unilateral lull in the occupied Palestinian territories," Khaled al-Batsh, a senior leader based in Gaza, told reporters.
"Israel wants to keep on its attacks and aggressions until the last moment and the Islamic Jihad, in return, will continue its resistance," al-Batsh added, dpa reported.

Latest

Latest