Pessach-Massaker
Am Übergang Kerem Shalom ereigneten sich am Samstag die schlimmsten Anschläge seit Israels Rückzug aus Gaza:
April 19th, 2008
IDF SPOKESPERSON’S ANNOUNCEMENT
Suicide Bombing Attack in Kerem Shalom, 13 Soldiers Wounded on Eve of Passover
Three explosive-laden vehicles, two disguised as military jeeps and an armored vehicle, approached under heavy morning fog the Kerem Shalom central humanitarian crossing through which approximately 200 humanitarian aid trucks enter per week.
Terrorists triggered the explosives in the two jeeps, wounding thirteen IDF soldiers; one moderately-seriously, two moderately and eight lightly. Four terrorists were killed in the incident, their attempts to detonate the third vehicle foiled. The bombing attack was combined with a barrage of 15 mortar shells fired at the area.
Later today, a fourth booby-trapped vehicle approached the security fence near Kibbutz Nirim. An alert IDF force detonated the vehicle before it hurt the community or cause damage to the fence.
The terrorists planned to execute a wider attack, possibly kidnapping IDF soldiers. This is the fifth attack in ten days upon a central life-line crossing such as Kerem Shalom and Nahal Oz fuel terminal.
GOC Southern Command, Major General Yoav Galant, commenting on the event, stated that “we haven’t seen such attacks since the Disengagement, synchronized across the Gaza Strip, aimed at mass killing and the kidnapping of soldiers into Gaza by armored vehicles, ruining the Passover holiday and casting a grave shadow on celebrations of Israel’s 60th anniversary.”
On Thursday, April 17th, 2008, a Palestinian militant’s attempt to infiltrate Kerem Shalom was thwarted by IDF soldiers. Despite the incident 48 humanitarian trucks of medical equipment and food products were transferred into Gaza through Kerem Shalom the next day.
“Hamas is exploiting the compassion and generosity of the State of Israel by targeting humanitarian crossings. This is a deliberate attack against aiding the Palestinian population,” Maj. Gen. Galant added.
The IDF will continue operating to protect the civilians of the western Negev and the integrity of the security fence from attacks by terrorist organizations – in particular Hamas.
Die meisten Verurteilungen dieser Anschläge dürften wohl wieder einmal ziemlich halbherzig ausfallen, denn, so Caroline Glick in der ‘Jerusalem Post’: “If Israel is to blame for the lack of Palestinian statehood, then nothing the Palestinians believe or do is relevant.”
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