GAZA CITY, 27 July 2006 — In one of the bloodiest days since Israel began its offensive in the Gaza Strip one month ago, 23 Gazans were massacred in airstrikes and tank shelling on northeast Gaza City yesterday. More than 40 Palestinian were wounded, officials said.
Most of the dead were fighters, Palestinians said, but two children were among the civilian fatalities. Three of the wounded were in critical condition, Health Ministry official Mo’aweya Hassanein added.
Palestinian security officials said dozens of Israeli armored vehicles and bulldozers rolled into Gaza City’s Al-Shaaf neighborhood in the early hours of yesterday, amid intensive gunfire. Witnesses said that an Israeli Army tank fired shells during the pre-dawn advance into the neighborhood, killing and wounding Palestinian fighters and civilians.
Palestinian security officials also said Israeli aircraft carried out four separate airstrikes on fighters who tried to confront the Israeli push into the area. An army spokesman said Israeli helicopters fired at approximately 14 groups of fighters who were using anti-tank missiles and semi-automatic weapons to confront the troops.
Public relations officer at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City said two Palestinians were killed and eight were injured.
— With input from agencies
