Israel launches gunboat and helicopter attack

An Israeli gunboat and a helicopter fired several rockets at targets in Gaza City in synchronised attacks several minutes apart tonight.

At least one person was killed and more than 20 wounded, according to reports.

The targets of the attacks were believed to be in the Jabalya refugee camp.

Ambulances were heard racing to the scene of the gunboat attack, just north of Gaza City.

Doctors and witnesses said the helicopter fired three missiles at the car of a Hamas fugitive, killing a bystander and wounding at least 26, .

The target of the attack, a member of the Hamas military wing, managed to flee before the missiles struck the vehicle, witnesses said.

At the time of the strike, the car was stuck in a traffic jam just north of Gaza City, near the Jebaliya refugee camp.

Resident Shadi Tayan, who owns a bookstore in the area, said that “the people in the car jumped out and ran in two different directions” after one rocket hit near the front of the car. After the men fled, two more missiles hit.

Three men were in the car, including Wael Ekalan of the Hamas military wing, witnesses said.

The attack killed bystander Hassan Hamlawi, 65, who was sitting on the pavement outside his water pipe shop when the missiles hit nearby. At least 26 bystanders were wounded, doctors said. Among those hurt were four children, including an eight-year-old boy who was in critical condition, doctors said.

Just minutes earlier, an Israeli gunboat fired two shells toward northern Gaza City, hitting an empty plot of land. Initially reports that several people were wounded in that attack could not be verified.

The Israeli military had no comment.

It was the third Israeli missile strike in five days. Israel has said every Hamas militant is a potential target for liquidation – a response to a Hamas bus bombing that killed 21 bus riders in Jerusalem last week.