WORLD / Middle East
Israel flattens Hamas offices
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-07-17 08:58
An Israeli air strike flattened the 8-storey Palestinian Foreign Ministry
building in Gaza City on Monday, part of a campaign against the Hamas
militant group and the government it controls.
A fuel tank burns in Jiyeh after an attack by Israeli missiles in south
Beirut July 16, 2006. Israeli air raids shook Beirut on Sunday, the fifth
day of a devastating assault on Hizbollah and Lebanon that has prompted
no U.N. Security Council action and only a mild plea for restraint from
Israel's U.S. ally. [Reuters]
A separate air strike gutted the offices of a Hamas-led security force in
the Islamist stronghold of Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip, witnesses
said.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive after militants, some from Hamas,
captured an Israeli soldier - Corporal Gilad Shalit - in a cross-border
raid on June 25.
The Israeli military has since killed more than 85 Palestinians in Gaza,
about half of them militants.
The Foreign Ministry building, which was badly damaged in a previous
Israeli air strike, was completely destroyed by the early morning blast,
which tore into nearby homes, shops and offices, witnesses said.
At least nine Palestinians were injured, most of them children. No deaths
were reported.
"The explosion was so powerful that it knocked my children out of their
beds, crying and screaming," said Umm Mohammed, who lives in an apartment
across the street from the Foreign Ministry building.
Mohammed said the blast knocked out windows in the room where her
children were sleeping.
The Israeli army confirmed the air strike. An army spokesman accused
Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar of Hamas of using his offices "to plan
continued terror attacks against Israel".
Zahar, a senior Hamas leader, survived an Israeli assassination attempt
in 2003 that killed his eldest son. Hamas, which came to power in the
Palestinian territories after a January election, is dedicated to
Israel's destruction.
Israel has bombed several buildings used by Hamas and its elected
leaders, including the office of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.
Hamas, which controls the Palestinian government, is demanding that
Israel free Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit's release.
Israel has rejected any exchange.
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Today's Top News
� Hu, Bush discuss Iran and DPRK nuke issues
� Military ties deepen as Guo visits US
� Death toll from Bilis rises to 170
� Quake triggers tsunami on Java island
� Typhoon death toll rises to 164
Top World News
� Quake triggers tsunami on Java island
� Indonesia warns of more bird flu deaths
� Weary Discovery crew aims for home
� Thai king to undergo spinal surgery
� Hezbollah rockets hit Haifa, killing 8
Alibaba is the largest B2B marketplace in the world. Source model ship,
wooden puzzle, one-piece toilet, RC hovercraft, photo album, prom dress,
pocket bike, Vaginal Speculum, Samurai Sword, String Panty and PVC Pipe.
Learn Chinese, Free Chinese Lesson, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
