Israeli shelling at N Gaza kills three Palestinians

Source: Xinhua | 12-05-2007 16:53

GAZA, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Three Palestinians were killed and five others wounded in Israeli artillery shelling on northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning, witnesses and hospital officials said.

The witnesses said that an Israeli shell landed and exploded near al-Shayma school northwest of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia, killing three people and wounded five others.

The Israeli artillery shelling was carried out shortly after Palestinian militants fired mortar shells at Israeli posts on the borders between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

The witnesses said they heard a huge explosion after the shell landed on the area, adding that ambulances arrived at the scene and moved the casualties to Kamal Odwan Hospital in the area.

Mo'awyea Hassanein, chief of emergency in the health ministry under the deposed Hamas government, said the hospital of Kamal Odwan received three bodies and five injured persons, two of whom in serious conditions.

Since the Annapolis conference held on Nov. 27 in the United States, the Israeli army had killed 24 Palestinians, as the Israeli government decided to escalate attacks on militants in Gaza Strip who launch homemade rockets at Israel.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei