Four Israelis were killed and at least four were injured Wednesday night in a gun battle that was set off after Palestinian gunman infiltrated Hamra settlement in the Jordan valley.
According to initial reports, the armed Palestinians entered the green-houses area of the settlement at around 6:00 PM and opened fire at a patrol which was passing nearby.
The shooters then entered a house in the settlement and captured two women there, reported Haaretz. An Israeli police task force proceeded to enter the house and during the battle the two women and the Palestinians were killed.
According to preliminary reports, the settlement had received a warning of a possible infiltration 10 minutes prior to the first encounter with the Palestinians.
The settlement's security guards began closing the settlement gates, when shots were fired at him from the direction of the settlement's green- houses. An eye-witness said that a gas container near one of the houses was hit by bullets and exploded, and that the residents of the house were rescued under fire.
Later, Lebanese Resistance party Hizbullah Al Manar television reported that the attack was carried out by members of the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
