Monday 21st April, 2008
Israeli aerial bombings kill 7 Palestinian militants
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Robert Berger - VOA Sunday 20th April, 2008
At least seven Palestinian militants have been killed in Israeli air
strikes on the Gaza Strip.
As Robert Berger re****ts from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, neither side
is
backing down.
Israel launched a series of air strikes targeting fighters from
Hamas,
the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza. The raids came in retaliation
for a daring Hamas attack Saturday on an Israeli cargo crossing on the
Gaza
border. Hamas militants rammed two car bombs into the crossing, but were
repelled by Israeli troops. Four of the Palestinian assailants were killed
and 13 Israeli soldiers wounded.
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev says Hamas will bear the
consequences.
"The Hamas terrorist regime in Gaza continues to try to kill
Israelis
and they continue with their military buildup. The Israeli defense forces
are acting to protect our people," Regev said.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri says the group will continue to
target
Israeli border crossings in an attempt to break a crippling blockade.
Abu Zuhri said Saturday's attack is the beginning of an explosion,
and
he urged Arab and western states to force Israel to end the siege of Gaza.
Israel has reduced food and fuel supplies to Gaza in response to
daily
Palestinian rocket attacks. Israeli officials say the Hamas attacks on the
border crossings are aimed at forcing Israel to cut off supplies
altogether.
They say Hamas wants to spark a humanitarian crisis in Gaza to win
international sympathy and bring condemnation on the Jewish state
