Israeli helicopter attack injures 11

An Israeli helicopter fired two missiles at a car in the Gaza Strip tonight, wounding at least 11 people, Palestinian witnesses said.

They said the attack took place as the Fiat was heading to the Sheikh Radwan district, a Hamas stronghold.

“I saw a flame hit a small car and people trying to escape from the car,” said Raouf Musalam, who witnessed the attack.

“Apaches were overhead for about two minutes while people rushed to help the wounded people.”

Dr Jomma Saka of Gaza’s Shifa Hospital said 11 people had been admitted. One was in critical condition, another suffered moderate injuries, he said. The rest were lightly wounded.

Dr Saka said it appeared that none of the wounded had been in the car.

During three years of fighting, Israel has frequently carried out similar air strikes aimed at Palestinian militants.

Israeli helicopters last struck targets in the Gaza Strip on Christmas Day, killing three Islamic Jihad militants and two civilians.

Prior to that, there had been a two-month letup in such attacks.

Israeli security officials have recently indicated that they would halt targeting Hamas militants after the military chief, Lieutenant General Moshe Yaalon, said the group appeared to have halted attacks inside Israel.