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| By: Associated Press |
| Published: December 26, 2005 |
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Armed guards at a Gaza Strip greenhouse in an abandoned Jewish settlement opened fire at a group of Palestinian laborers who approached the structure Monday, wounding four people, hospital officials said.
The laborers approached the greenhouse overnight Monday after hearing rumors that the business' owner planned to fire workers, officials said.
Amed al-Masri, general director of the company that operates about 2,700 greenhouses in Gaza, said there were no plans to dismiss workers and accused unknown elements of trying to sabotage the buildings.
olice blocked off the greenhouse in the abandoned settlement of Nezer Hazani on Monday, and bloodstains were seen on the ground.
The greenhouses, left behind by Israel after its withdrawal from Gaza in September, are a centerpiece of redevelopment plans for the area's economy.
About 8,000 laborers work in the greenhouses, which recently completed their first harvest under Palestinian control. On Sunday, Palestinians exported their first shipment of produce - a crop of strawberries - to Europe, al-Masri said.
The Palestinians expect to produce about 170 tons of produce, including cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and strawberries, with about 80 percent to be exported to Israel and the remainder to Europe. |
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