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Undated image released by the Hamas showing Palestinians firing mortars at Israeli targets. (AP)
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| By Ellis Shuman April 29, 2001 |
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Five Israeli teenagers were wounded Saturday when a Palestinian mortar salvo struck a youth club in the Gaza Strip settlement of Netzer Hazani. Eitan Matzliah, Bat-El Reuven, Dalit Mordechai, Amihai Yifrah and Harel Moshe were all in or near the club when one of the five mortar shells fell nearby.
Medics and security officials who arrived at the scene began treating the wounded youths, who were later transferred by ambulance to Beer Sheva's Soroka Hospital for treatment. One of the youths sustained moderate wounds, while the other four had light injuries.
Interviewed on Channel 2 television, Harel Moshe, age 15,
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"I looked down and saw I was covered in blood"
- Harel Moshe, injured in the mortar attack
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recalled the attack. "Some of us were outside the club when I heard this whistle and a large blast. I felt the force of the blast, and turned around and went inside. Then I looked down and saw I was covered in blood."
Kfar Darom and Nisanit in Gush Katif were also hit by mortar fire over the weekend. No injuries were reported on either settlement.
Fatah claims responsibility, then changes story
According to one report, a previously unknown group called the Four Martyrs, which claimed to be affiliated with Arafat's Fatah organization, took responsibility for the mortar attack on Netzer Hazani. The group claimed it was a reprisal for a bomb blast late Wednesday that killed four Fatah activists in Rafah.
The Jerusalem Post reported "Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's Fatah organization claimed responsibility for all three attacks." Ha'aretz reported that this was the first time Fatah directly implicated itself in a mortar attack. According to the ynet website, Fatah leaders later recanted their connection to the incidents.
ynet reported that a phone call from U.S. Secretary of State to Colin Powell pressured Arafat to change the official Fatah position regarding the mortars. In recent days Arafat has called for the cessation of mortar attacks. Israel Radio this morning quoted Palestinian sources that said Arafat had re-issued orders for mortar fire in the Gaza Strip to cease.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office issued a statement following the attack, saying "the latest incident, as well as the mortar attacks [Friday] night . . . are proof that the Palestinian Authority is not doing anything to prevent -- and is actively involved in -- attacks on innocent Israeli women and children in their own communities."
Grave incident doesn't change plans
The Associated Press quoted IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Olivier Rafowicz, who said the shelling was "the gravest incident'' of the firing of mortar shells on an Israeli community since clashes broke out seven months ago.
Despite this opinion, the IDF did not launch a major military reprisal to the mortar attacks. Defense Minister Benyamin Ben Eliezer prepared today to issue an additional 11,000 entrance passes to Israel to Palestinian workers. Palestinian and Israeli security officials are scheduled to meet again today.
Even after Yasser Arafat reissued a call for the cessation of mortar attacks, two shells were fired this morning at Kfar Darom. One fell near the settlement's hot houses and the other landed near a factory. No injuries or damage were reported.
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