At 1 a.m. Monday morning, Israeli troops invaded two neighbourhoods west of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. A number of tanks supported by Apache helicopters entered the neighbourhoods opening fire randomly; thirteen Palestinians were killed, among them four children, and more than seventy were injured, several of them seriously.
Some of the victims were killed by shooting and shelling while in their homes, but the majority was killed when the Israeli troops were withdrawing. People went out in the streets to look at the damage and help injured people, when an Apache helicopter suddenly turned around and fired missiles into the crowds. At least eight were killed.
Throughout the Israeli attack, ambulances were prevented from reaching the injured: Abdel Fattah Al-Zallout (40) was hit by live ammunition in his stomach when he was inside his home. He was bleeding heavily, but according to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops held back an ambulance for more than one hour, preventing it from reaching the scene. Abdel died.
Israeli soldiers surrounded and entered the home of Rami Salame who was "wanted" by the Israeli army. The soldiers did not find Rami at home, and instead they shot his mother, Rahme Hassan Salame (45), in the head, killing her.
Some of the victims were killed by shooting and shelling while in their homes, but the majority was killed when the Israeli troops were withdrawing. People went out in the streets to look at the damage and help injured people, when an Apache helicopter suddenly turned around and fired missiles into the crowds. At least eight were killed.
Throughout the Israeli attack, ambulances were prevented from reaching the injured: Abdel Fattah Al-Zallout (40) was hit by live ammunition in his stomach when he was inside his home. He was bleeding heavily, but according to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops held back an ambulance for more than one hour, preventing it from reaching the scene. Abdel died.
Israeli soldiers surrounded and entered the home of Rami Salame who was "wanted" by the Israeli army. The soldiers did not find Rami at home, and instead they shot his mother, Rahme Hassan Salame (45), in the head, killing her.