Infant, fighter killed in a brief Israeli military invasion into Khan Younis

Wednesday March 05, 2008 14:48

by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported on Tuesday at night that one fighter and one infant were killed in an Israeli ground offensive in Al Qarara town, in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

The Al Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, reported that Yousef Al Sameery, one of its leaders, was assassinated in the offensive.

The army also shot and killed one infant in the offensive. Medical sources in Khan Younis identified the infant as Ameera Khalid Abu Aser, 2 weeks.

Medical sources stated that the infant was shot in her head and that her mother suffered serious injuries. Soldiers also shot and wounded the father of the child.

Local sources reported that the father of the infant and his family were visiting Yousef Al Sameery when the army attacked the house.

The Al Quds brigades reported that several residents were kidnapped by the army, including the son of Al Sameery and some of his relatives.

The Brigades also stated that the body of Al Sameery was found close to his home.

Armed clashes erupted at the scene and eight residents, including three members of the Al Aqsa Brigades, the armed wing of Fateh movement, were wounded.

Abu Ahmad, media spokesperson of the Al Quds Brigades, stated that undercover forces of the Israeli army participated in the invasion. The Brigades stated that its fighters fired an RPG shell at a military jeep in the area.

Israeli military sources confirmed the attack and said that at least 25 military vehicles briefly invaded the southern part of the Gaza Strip and soldiers exchanged fire with resistance fighters.

Also, the army stated that two fighters of the Islamic Jihad were kidnapped during the offensive.

On Tuesday morning, the army shot and killed two Palestinians in Gaza city and the northern part of the Gaza Strip. One of the slain residents is a member of the Al Qassam Brigades.

On Tuesday at dawn, one fighter of the Al Qassam Brigades was killed by an Israeli missile fired by a military war-jet in Al Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City.