MIDDLE EAST: Israeli lookout post comes under Palestinian fire

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Qatar News Agency (QNA)

GAZA, Mar 31 2003 (IPS) - Two Palestinians fell martyr Sunday night during armed confrontations with Israeli soldiers at the village of Beit Hanoon on the northeast borders between Gaza Strip and Israel.

Palestinian witnesses said they heard a few explosions and fire exchanges between the Palestinian militants and the Israeli soldiers during the two-hour gun battle.

Israeli army officials said that a group of Palestinian militants opened fire at an Israeli army lookout post near the borders, and that the soldiers fired back.

The Israeli army called for reinforcements of eight Israeli army tanks and two Apache attack helicopters to the area. The tanks entered into the area under the cover of helicopter gunfire.