Israeli attack kills four Hamas members

[bemildred]

GAZA CITY (CNN) -- An Israeli
helicopter attack Sunday night in
Gaza City killed four members of
the Palestinian militant group
Hamas, Palestinian sources said.

Witnesses said those killed were
sitting in a vacant lot near a base
housing members of Force 17,
Palestinian Authority President
Yasser Arafat's personal guard, when
Israeli helicopter gunships fired at
least two missiles at them about 9:55
p.m. (2:55 p.m. EDT).

Sources within Hamas identified the
dead as Walid el Hams, Ahmed
Eshtwi, Ahmed Abu Halala and
Muhammad Abu Lubda. A fifth Hamas
member was critically wounded, the
sources said. Several bystanders
received less serious injuries,
hospital officials told CNN.

Earlier Sunday, Maj. Gen. Abdel
Razek al Majaydeh, Arafat's security
chief in Gaza, ordered his forces to
stop militant groups from firing rocket
and mortar attacks at Israeli towns
and settlements.

CNN

[newyorican]

1. Ha'aretz

Four people killed in IAF strike on car in Gaza City

*****
Palestinians reported that eight other people
were injured in the strike, among them four,
including a child, in moderate to serious
condition.

Security sources said that the assassination was
carried out in order to thwart a double suicide
bombing planned by Hamas's military wing in the
near future.

*****

Hamas sources reported that only two of the dead
belonged to the group, while the other two were
members of Force 17 who were present on the
scene.

The strike took place at approximately 9:45
P.M., between the Rimal and Sheih Ag'alin
neighborhoods on Gaza's beachfront. Witnesses
reported that IAF Apachi helicopter gunships
fired at least three anti-tank missiles at a
Palestinian car carrying Aishtawi and Alhumes
that was approaching a Force 17 road block.
According to the sources, two missiles were
fired at the car, killing the two on the spot.
Two Force 17 men who noticed the blast fled the
scene, when missiles were also fired at them
killing them as well.
*****

And in other news:
'Arafat to be expelled after next big terror
attack'
Army Radio on Sunday quoted sources in Jerusalem
as warning that "Yasser Arafat will be expelled
from the territories after the next big terror
attack." The sources said that although a final
decision has not yet been made on the matter,
another large-scale attack would compel Israel
to expel Arafat.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/332803.html

Kick out Arafat? Who will they blame? Kind of meaningless rhetoric since they will have to kill him first. Wonder what that funeral will look like? Hmmm....

[cantwealljustgetalong]

2. "have to kill him first"...

you're such a tease...

[tinnypriv]

3. Killing Arafat

Would be the most idiotic thing Israel has done in a very long time. You're right though - "expel" is essentially a euphamism for just that.

That isn't the worst that some Israeli's are calling for. Leaving aside "transfer", bombing funeral processions is quite a standard request on Israeli commentary sites. That isn't quite within reach yet, but after killing Arafat I can see all bets being off.

[QuietStorm]

4. another large scale attack huh

is this wishful thinking?