|
Israeli gunships attack Gaza harbor
Israeli Navy gunships shelled the harbor in Gaza City early yesterday, destroying a Palestinian coast guard ship, after the Palestinian Authority ordered the arrest of three of its own officials on suspicion of smuggling arms by sea. The action came amid allegations that the Authority was smuggling arms into the Gaza Strip, after the Israeli Navy boarded and seized an arms-laden freighter in the Red Sea last week. The harbor area was rocked by the resounding sound of at least two shells being launched as the early morning attack left some boats ablaze and destroyed a fuel dump, security sources said. The shelling destroyed two boats, one of which was the Palestinian naval vessel, the Gindalla, an Israeli military statement said.Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority has jailed three of its own officials, including two senior naval officers, for their alleged role in the affair in which the Karine A, stocked with 50 tons of weapons, was intercepted, officials in Gaza said. It has accused vice admirals Fethi Razem and Fuad Shubaki and arms buyer Adel Moghrabi of responsibility for the foiled smuggling operation, officials said. All three men have also been implicated by the Israelis in the affair, and an official commission of inquiry set up by the Palestinian Authority has asked Israel to help in the investigation. Israel alleges that the Palestinian Authority ordered the cargo of weapons, a charge the Authority has denied. The Gaza wharf attack followed a second straight day of Israeli aggression into the Gaza Strip, which included the bulldozing of dozens of homes, and which were alleged to be in retaliation for the killing of four Israeli soldiers. Posted by: Fred 2002-01-13 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=58709 |