Palestinians killed as Israelis raid refugee camps

At least nine Palestinians were killed when fighting erupted as Israeli troops raided two Gaza refugee camps early today.

The raids came a day after militant groups choreographed an elaborate attack on soldiers at the main Israel-Gaza crossing point.

In today’s raid, at least 40 Palestinians, among them six in a critical condition, were wounded in the ongoing fighting, Dr Moawia Hassanen, the director of emergency services at the Palestinian Health Ministry. Five of the dead were militants and one a 15-year-old boy.

The army said it had raided the Bureij refugee camp in a “pinpointed operation against the terrorist infrastructure … focusing on terrorist cells who frequently fire mortar shells and activate explosive devices against Israeli civilian and military targets.”

In intensive fighting, Palestinians fired anti-tanks missiles and detonated explosives at forces, the army said, adding that it identified hitting at least one armed Palestinian.

Fighting has intensified in the Gaza Strip in recent weeks – with the army carrying out more targeted killings and raids while Palestinian militants stage more suicide and other attacks – as each side tries to make a planned Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip look like a victory.

Yesterday, three main Palestinian militant groups staged an elaborate attack at the Erez Crossing, sending a suicide bomber and militants with assault rifles in vehicles disguised as Israeli army jeeps to attack soldiers guarding the heavily fortified area.

The carefully co-ordinated attack began when a taxi laden with explosives blew up near a military checkpoint.

Four Palestinian assailants and two policemen were killed in the attack. No Israelis were hurt.

Before dawn today, Israeli forces, backed by at least two Apache helicopter gunships hovering overhead, moved slowly down alleys and side streets on the outskirts of the Bureij and Nusseirat refugee camps. Sniper units stationed themselves on rooftops, witnesses said.

Calls for gunmen to come out and fight the Israeli forces came over mosque loudspeakers in the camp and dozens of men from several militant factions poured into the streets, clashing with the troops. Sounds of intensive gunfire punctuated the air.

A 15-year-old boy was among the dead. Area residents gathered in the emergency room of Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades Hospital in nearby Deir el-Balah, offering assistance to the harried medical staff.

In Nusseirat camp, soldiers surrounded the homes of two leaders of the Popular Resistance Committees, an umbrella group made up of members of several militant factions.

Yesterday, militants said they were stepping up attacks to show they are forcing Israel out of Gaza.

Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade, a militant group linked to Yasser Arafat’s Fatah faction – jointly claimed responsibility for crossing attack.

Israel, meanwhile, is expected to intensify military strikes ahead of its planned withdrawal to avoid giving the impression that it is fleeing. Seven Palestinians – six militants and a 10-year-old boy – have been killed in targeted Israeli air strikes in Gaza City in the past week.

Yesterday’s attack began at around 10am local time (8am GMT) when a Palestinian taxi sped into the Erez crossing point and exploded just outside a heavily fortified army checkpoint.

Moments later, two more attackers in a jeep with Israeli military markings - including white and black army licence plates and a flashing light on the roof - pulled up. One of the men jumped out and opened fire with an assault rifle. Troops fired back, killing the pair.

A second “fake” jeep blew up outside the crossing zone, apparently after Palestinian policemen guarding the Gaza side blocked its path.

The thunderous blasts were followed by the heavy rattle of Israeli gunfire.

Two Palestinian policemen were killed. The military said they were hit by the spray of shrapnel as the third car exploded, but Palestinian hospital officials said the two had gunshot wounds. Nineteen people, including police officers and taxi drivers, were wounded, two of them critically.