Troops withdraw from Khan Younis, seven residents killed and dozens injured
 
By Wisam Afifa 
August 14, 2007 
International Middle East Media Center
http://www.kibush.co.il/show_file.asp?num=21743
http://www.imemc.org/article/49892  

The Israeli army withdrew from Abasan area, east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip and invading it earlier on Tuesday. Seven residents, including four fighters, were killed and at least 15 were officially reported injured; the army also uprooted and bulldozed agricultural lands, and some homes.

Medical sources in Khan Younis reported that after the army withdrew from Abasan on Tuesday evening, medics found three bodies of residents who were shot and killed during the invasion. Two of the killed are members of the Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, they were identified as Ahmad Kamal Al Qarra and Mos’ab Abu Jame’. 

The invasion in Abasan was carried out after the Israeli air force fired a missile at fighters of the Al Quds brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad.

Also, soldiers shelled the house of Jamal Abu Daqqa in Khan Younis causing several injuries and excessive damage. 

Three fighters of the Al Quds brigades were also injured one seriously, when an Israeli drove fired a missile at them. The brigades stated that it fired homemade shells into adjacent Israeli areas in retaliation to the invasion.

On Tuesday at dawn, four residents, including a woman and her son, who is a resistance fighter, were killed as the army invaded the area. At least fifteen residents were injured, some seriously, medical sources in Khan Younis reported.

The slain residents were identified as Sabha Al Qarra, her son Omar, 25, Mohammad Yousef Abu Mshameh, 21, and Ibrahim Al Shami, 40. The body of another resident was found after the army evacuated from the area, it is yet to be identified.

Meanwhile, an Israeli military spokesperson stated that the invasion was carried out “in an attempt to locate tunnels used by resistance fighters to smuggle arms into the Gaza Strip”, and to stop the firing of homemade shells into Israel.

The spokesperson only admitted that the army killed four Palestinians, without giving further details, and added that at least 80 residents were arrested.