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Israel demolishes 13 Gaza houses
Time for a visit from Mister Caterpillar!Israeli troops have demolished 13 Palestinian houses in Gaza, a day after gunmen ambushed Jewish settlers holding an outdoor memorial service. Bulldozers flattened a row of homes along the road and a four-story block of flats was blown up, leaving about 75 Palestinians homeless, reports say. "They left nothing for us," said one, a member of the Abu Hadaf clan which occupied most of the buildings. "The bulldozers are uprooting trees, demolishing our houses," he said. MEMO TO NITWIT: Those werenât houses, they were sniper nests. The Israeli army said the houses had been destroyed because gunmen had used them for cover. No Israelis were hurt in Sundayâs ambush, but settlers were left crouching behind vehicles as shooting continued for 20 minutes. About 300 settlers had attended Sundayâs heavily-guarded memorial service on the Kissufim road near Gush Katif settlement for Gaza settler Tali Hatuel and her (FOUR, COUNT THEM, FOUR) daughters. She was ambushed on 2 May on her way to Israel to lobby voters in a Likud party referendum on Prime Minister Ariel Sharonâs plan to evacuate the settlements in Gaza. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for Sundayâs attack. "We heard a shot, and then another one, and we understood we were being fired upon," said one of the settlers. "Instinctively we lay on the ground and hid behind cars." An armoured vehicle drove along the side of the road, to shield people behind clouds of dust and give them cover as they dashed to safety. The Israeli army responded to the attack with automatic fire and tank shells. Two gunmen were killed. The army said one of them had been disguised in womanâs clothing. Trying to qualify as one of those "virgins" in paradise, mebbe? Television cameras captured dramatic footage of the settlers under attack. One was seen shielding his screaming four-year-old daughter on the ground. But the army played down the significance of the incident, saying between three and five armed attacks against settlements were launched by Palestinian militants in Gaza every day. - EMPHASIS ADDED - Posted by: Zenster 2004-05-10 |
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