Israeli air strike in Gaza killed three Palestinians

Saturday April 02, 2011 08:31:44 PM, Agencies

Gaza: An Israeli air strike has killed three Palestinians in the southern Gaza Strip, medical officials and the Israeli army said.

Residents said the strike on Saturday targeted a car driving between the town of Khan Yunis and the Deir al-Balah refugee camp.

An Israeli military spokesman said the raid, planned jointly with the Shin Bet domestic security agency, was a preemptive strike against militants planning to kidnap Israelis during the coming Jewish festival of Passover.

Hamas said the three men killed were members of its group, but officials declined comment on the allegations made against them by the Israeli military.

In a statement issued later, Hamas called the strike "a crime" and vowed revenge.

An Israeli air strike in the same area of Gaza on Wednesday killed an Islamic Jihad member on a motorcycle.

In a rise in violence last month, Israel carried out a series of air strikes and Palestinian armed groups fired rocket salvoes into Israel.

Most of the Palestinian firing since has been attributed to Islamic Jihad.

Despite the spike in tension of late, both Israel and Hamas, which rules Gaza, appear reluctant to be dragged into another bloody confrontation along the lines of the December 2008 - January 2009 war, which killed more than 1,400 people, the vast majority Palestinians.

                                           Home | Top of the Page

Top Stories

Billion hearts, one dream: India prays for encore

It isn't quite war this time. With three days to recoup from the spent emotions of Mohali, a cheerful and excited India Saturday was in the mood for a solid good game of cricket, hoping their team would repeat its World Cup feat of 1983, this time against Sri Lanka.  »

 Jayawardene slams century as Sri Lanka set India 275-run target

Mumbai now also becomes nation's cricket capital

  Most Read

RTE Act one year on: 8 million children still missing school

The Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act which promises free and compulsory education  »

 Over a lakh children in Delhi still out of school

Israel asks UN to help block planned Gaza flotilla

Israel asked the United Nations on Friday to help prevent activists sailing to Gaza on the first anniversary of the bloody Israeli seizure of a Turkish ship that tried to reach the blockaded Palestinian enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office quoted him telling UN Secretary  »

  News Pick

Who is a progressive Muslim?

A progressive Muslim is one who is firmly grounded in the Qur’anic values of truth (haq), justice (‘adl), compassion (rahmah), wisdom (hikmah) and does service to others rather than being served by others. A progressive Muslim does not believe in sectarian   »

Quirks of fate boost Manmohan's standing

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's decision to invite his counterpart in Pakistan, Yousuf Raza Gilani, to watch the India-Pakistan cricket match in the World Cup semifinal in Chandigarh may prove to be a successful initiative    »

Anna Hazare calls for nation-wide fast

After discussions between activists and government representatives on the anti-graft Lokpal bill failed to reach a discussion, veteran activist Anna Hazare has called upon the nation to observe a fast April 5. "We are appealing to the   »

Waqf Properties’ Record in MP being Computerized

In order to monitor Waqf properties, the record is being computerized in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. A total of 15,000 properties worth Rs. 52,000 crores is registered under the Waqf in the state.   »

Declining child sex ratio alarms social scientists

With the 2011 census showing a continuing decline in the country's child sex ratio,   »

India's population is 1.21 billion, gender imbalance worsens

Picture of the Day

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gilani watching the Indo-Pak World Cup semi-final, at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium, in Mohali on March 30, 2011. Also seen are UPA Chairperson Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Lok Sabha Speaker Mrs Meira Kumar.