- Thirteen Israeli soldiers were reported wounded Sunday
evening in a combined bomb and mortar attack on an IDF position near the
Rafah Terminal Crossing in the southern Gaza Strip along the border between
Gaza and Egypt.
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- A strong explosion was heard near the crossing, followed
almost immediately by a barrage of mortar shells and small arms fire. Security
officials said the blast occurred when over one ton of explosives were
activated inside a tunnel, which was dug under the area where soldiers
check Palestinians wishing to leave Gaza for Egypt.
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- At least two suicide bombers were involved in the attack,
Israel Radio reported.
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- Immediately after the blast, Palestinians opened mortar
and light arms fire at the crossing. The wounded were being evacuated under
fire towards the nearby Israeli community of Keren Shalom.
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- According to Zaka rescue service, three people were seriously
wounded in the attack.
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- The wounded were then transferred by IAF helicopters
and ambulances to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. However, rescue teams
are finding it difficult to reach the scene do to the heavy exchange of
fire.
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- An Initial investigation shows that the attackers waited
until the terminal's gates closed at 4:30 p.m., so that no Palestinians
crossing in or out of the area would be wounded in the attack.
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- A Palestinian giving his name only as Abu Majad claimed
gunmen attacked the Israeli side of the crossing after the blast. He claimed
responsibility in the name of the Fatah Hawks, an offshoot of the mainstream
Fatah Party, and possibly connected with Hamas.
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- Abu Majad said the explosives-filled tunnel was 250 meters
long. He said the attack was retaliation for what he called "the assassination"
of Yasser Arafat.
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- At least one attacker was killed in the gunbattle with
the soldiers.
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- Palestinians often dig tunnels along the border with
Egypt to smuggle people and arms into Israel.
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- Hamas' military wing Izzadin Al-Kassam and the Fatah
Hawks claimed responsibility for the attack. They said the attack was filmed
and video will be released at a later stage. The Hawks are a youth movement
within the Fatah which has turned into an armed militia.
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- IDF officers say there is still a threat in the area.
Gun battles are still being reported. The attack occurred during a medal
award ceremony presided over by OC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Dan Harel
in the northern Gaza Strip.
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- With AP
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- http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=
JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1102821629028
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