moqawama

Israeli airstrike hits eastern Gaza

Tue Jul 12, 2011 11:14PM

An Israeli fighter jet (file photo)

 

Israeli forces have launched an airstrike in the eastern part of Gaza city, injuring at least one Palestinian in the besieged coastal sliver.

In the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, Israeli F-16 fighter jets flew over the coastal enclave, and fired two rockets at a car repair shop in a residential neighborhood in the east of the city.

According to a Press TV correspondent in Gaza, a 19-year-old girl was injured in the attack and dozens of people, including children, were treated for shock.

The attack also caused severe damage to the building and shattered windows of nearby houses.

Earlier this week, Israeli warplanes also killed two Palestinians and injured another one in Gaza.

There were no immediate reports of the exact number of injuries or damage to property.

The Israeli army frequently bombs the tunnel network in Gaza, claiming that Palestinian resistance fighters use the tunnels to store and smuggle in weapons. Palestinians, however, dismiss such allegations, insisting that they were forced to resort to the underground tunnels to bring in basic living supplies to the impoverished Gazans because the territory has been sealed off to the outside world by a punishing Israeli blockade for over three years.

Some 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including the freedom of movement and appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.

AS/MGH