GAZA CITY/RAMALLAH, 8 April 2007 — A Palestinian was killed and two were wounded in an Israeli helicopter attack on the Gaza Strip at dawn yesterday, while a fighter of Fatah’s armed wing was injured in an exchange of fire with Israeli forces in the West Bank. The escalation in Israeli military activity came after Defense Minister Amir Peretz authorized limited strikes inside the Gaza Strip to try to prevent Palestinians from planting explosives, digging tunnels and firing rockets at Israeli towns.
Israeli helicopters fired at least two missiles near the Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, local residents said. An Israeli Army spokesman said the helicopters fired at a group of people who had tried to plant an explosive device near the border fence.
Islamic Jihad said its fighters and members of another group had been mounting an operation near the fence when the exchange of fire occurred. Islamic Jihad said its members fired rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons at the Israeli forces, and detonated bombs they had planted previously near the border fence.
A member of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) was killed in the exchange, Islamic Jihad said. At least two others were wounded. The dead DFLP fighter was identified as Fouad Ma’roof, 22.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on members of his Presidential Guard and National Security Forces to step up efforts to prevent the firing of rockets from Gaza so “that our people can lead a safe life.” The Presidential Guard and National Security Forces are loyal to Abbas’ Fatah faction. Tensions remain high in Gaza between Fatah and Hamas despite the formation of a unity government on March 17. Three Palestinians were wounded in Gaza in separate clashes between Hamas and Fatah gunmen, witnesses and Hamas fighters said.
In the West Bank town of Jenin, Zakariya Al-Zubeidi, the commander of Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, was shot in the shoulder by Israeli soldiers operating in the city in the early hours.
Zubeidi, who is wanted by Israel for a series of attacks, escaped and is listed in stable condition. He has survived numerous assassination and arrest attempts, including during a major Israeli invasion of Jenin five years ago. Israeli Army officials later confirmed that soldiers opened fire at a gunman in Jenin.
Zubeidi told Arab News from his hide-out that he is in good condition and that his men would “continue to fight the Israeli occupation forces as long as it invades Palestinian towns.” Al-Aqsa members threatened to retaliate to what they called an “assassination attempt” against their commander.
