Troops shell Rafah and Gaza, invade a town near Jabalia

Wednesday May 23, 2007 06:56 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian sources in the Gaza Strip reported on Tuesday night that Israeli troops carried out several air strikes in Rafah and Khan Younis, and invaded Khazza’a town, all in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. The same sources also reported the shelling of a house east of Jabalia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, and the shelling of a brick factory in Gaza City.

Israeli Tank, archive

The Palestinian News Agency WAFA reported that the Israeli air force fired four missiles at an area close to the Rafah police station. Excessive damage was reported, but there were no injuries.

Also on Tuesday night, the Israeli air force fired two missiles at the Tal Al Sultan area in Khan Younis and shelled an empty house east of Al Shuahada Graveyard, completely destroying it and inflicting damage to several surrounding houses.

Tuesday night also saw the shelling of a brick factory located on Salah Ed Deen Street, east of Gaza City, by the Israeli air force. While the building was damaged, no injuries were reported. This same factory, belonging to resident Jamal Karim, was shelled two days ago in an attack that killed one and injured two others.

These attacks were accompanied by a ground invasion of Khazza’a town, east of Khan Younis in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

The invasion was carried out by undercover forces of the Israeli army, supported by several military helicopters that circled the area.

Eyewitnesses reported that soldiers initially surrounded the Um Al Wad area of the town and occupied one house. Following this, Israeli forces broke into several homes and forced the residents to gather in one area while military helicopters fired flares and automatic rounds at open areas in and around the town.

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