Six Palestinians die in botched suicide attack at Erez crossing
By Amos Harel, Arnon Regular and Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Corespondents
At least four militants and two Palestinian Authority policemen were killed in a botched large-scale attack by militants at the Erez crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel on Saturday morning. Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah all claimed responsibility for the attack.
The attackers used three jeeps in the attack, with at least one disguised as an Israel Defense Forces military vehicle with forged license plates.
The first jeep, laden with explosives, was detonated near a Palestinian police outpost, likely due to the policemen's refusal to allow the jeep to cross the checkpoint into Israel. At least one militant and two policemen, Bashir Abu-Omrein, 28, and Hussam Aliwah, 28, were killed in the explosion.
The second jeep was detonated farther north on the Palestinian side of the border crossing. A militant who drove the jeep was killed in the explosion.
The third jeep, driven by two militants and disguised as an Israeli military vehicle, approached the southernmost IDF position, near the V.I.P crossing.
The jeep crashed into the IDF position's gate, one militant, dressed in an IDF uniform and armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, exited the vehicle and opened fire at the troops.
The troops returned fire and killed the gunman and the second militant in the jeep.
Hamas named one of the dead militants as Mohammed Abu-Diyeh, 18, from Gaza City's Rimal neighborhood.
Following the iitial investigation, military commander of the Gaza Strip, Gadi Shamni said that the Palestinian policement apparently confronted the militants, in an attempt to prevent them from crossing with their vehicles into Israel. "They acted well," Shamni said of the Palestinian policemen at the scene. He also commended the "excellent reaction" of the IDF troops, and added that it prevented many casualties.
Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah called the joint attack a "self-sacrifice operation" in a message posted on the Hamas web site.
"The Erez crossing point enables thousands of Palestinians to seek their livelihood in Israel proper or the Israeli side of Erez. Lately this crossing point has become a focal point of terror, thereby disrupting a vital economic link with Israel and jeopardizing the economic viability of thousands of Palestinian families whose main breadwinner works on the Israeli side," David Baker, an official at the Prime Minister's office said Saturday in response to the attack.
On January 14 a female suicide bomber blew herself up at the Erez crossing, killing three IDF soldiers and an Israeli security guard.
Also Saturday, some 150 Palestinian youths attempted to break into the A-Ram roadblock north of Jerusalem, while throwing stones at security forces in the area. Border Police troops fired tear gas in order to disperse the crowd.
Earlier Saturday, a 19-year-old Palestinian policeman was killed by IDF troops in the Tul Karm refugee camp.
The military said soldiers opened fire after the man drew a gun, and that the incident took place during a a routine military patrol in the West bank city.
Palestinian witnesses said he was killed during a clash between soldiers and dozens of stone throwers, including many children on their way to school.
The dead man was identified as Taher Abu Sariyeh, a member of the Palestinian security forces. Abu Sariyeh was in uniform at the time of his death and carried a weapon, hospital officials said.
IDF troops arrested two wanted Tanzim militants late Friday night in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Army Radio reported.
On Friday, Palestinians opened fire at IDF troops south of Tul Karm. There were no injuries or damage. Earlier Friday, Palestinians fired at an Israeli vehicle next to the Tapuah junction, south of Nablus. No one was injured, but the vehicle was damaged. Troops carried out searches in the area.
Late Friday night, Palestinians opened fire at an IDF post next to the Kfar Darom settlement in the central Gaza Strip. No one was injured. Troops returned fire.
Earlier, Palestinians fired an anti-tank rocket at troops in the Neve Dekalim region of the Strip. In the afternoon, a mortar shell was fired at the security fence in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Also in these incidents there were no injuries or damage.
On Friday morning, a Qassam rocket landed in Sderot, damaging four stores. At around the same time, Palestinians opened fire at an IDF base near the Gaza Strip settlement of Gadid. There were no injuries in either incident, Israel Radio reported. Overnight, security forces arrested 11 Palestinians in the territories.
The Gaza Strip and West Bank have been under total closure since Thursday night, and the closure is due to remain in effect until after Purim ends in Jerusalem on Monday night. In the rest of the country, Purim takes place Saturday night and Sunday.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz decided to enforce the closure in light of fears of terror attacks over the holiday.
"Unfortunately, Palestinian terrorists have a long track record of turning Jewish holidays into 'open season' on Israelis, and these security measures were taken in order to prevent more attacks and enable Israelis to celebrate the holiday of Purim in peace and security," David Baker, an official in the Prime Minister's Office, said Friday. |
