World - Reuters
Twenty Wounded in Israeli Raid on Gaza Refugee Camp
Date: Thu Apr 15, 4:35 AM ET
GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli soldiers and Palestinian gunmen battled in southern Gaza on Thursday when Israel launched a raid hours after President Bush (news - web sites) had pledged support for an Israeli pullout from the territory.
Twenty Palestinians were wounded in the fighting, including 11 people hit when a helicopter fired a missile at a building where gunmen were concealed, Palestinian sources said.
Israeli military officials said a helicopter gunship fired a missile at a group of gunmen fighting soldiers searching for tunnels used to smuggle weapons in across the Egyptian border.
Palestinians fired rifles, anti-tank rockets and bombs during the raid in Rafah, the officials said.
Seven gunmen were wounded in the helicopter missile strike, Palestinian sources said, adding that the rest of the wounded were civilians. There were no reports of Israeli casualties.
Palestinian sources said five houses were destroyed in the raid, launched late on Wednesday when 40 armored vehicles backed by helicopter gunships thrust into the camp.
Israel has carried out frequent raids in Rafah during the three and a half years of the Palestinian uprising. Troops have demolished scores of homes in missions to uncover and destroy arms smuggling conduits.
SOURCE
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