Three Palestinians were killed early Saturday in Gaza Strip in two separate incidents. In the first incident, two Palestinians, a woman and her two-year-old daughter, were shot dead by Israeli fire. The mother and her child were killed when an Israeli tank shell hit the taxi in which they were travelling, Palestinian sources said.
Randa Hindi, 44, and her daughter, Noor, were riding in a taxi that came under tank fire near an intersection close to a settlement, according to Dr. Ahmed Rabeh, spokesman for Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir Balah, where the bodies were taken. The driver and another passenger were not hurt, Rabeh said.
Israel Radio reported that the incident occurred close to the Netzarim settlement.
Also on Saturday, Palestinian security officials said a 44-year-old man, Khamees Shurab, was killed by Israeli gunfire while walking from the southern city of Khan Yunis to his home just outside town. He died after being hit in the head, chest and leg, Palestinian sources said. His body was taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis.
Elsewhere in Gaza, a mortar shell fell overnight, landing in a settlement in the northern part of Gaza Strip. There were no injuries and no damage was caused by the shell.
A number of grenades were also thrown at an Israeli post on the border with Egypt overnight, close to the southern town of Rafah. Israeli troops returned fire toward the source of the attack.
Meanwhile, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and associates of sacked West Bank security chief Jibril Rajoub are scheduled to meet Saturday evening to discuss their new leadership, Israel Radio reported.
The meeting, scheduled for Friday evening was postponed after Palestinans claimed Israel would not allow Rajoub's people to reach Arafat's West Bank headquarters in Ramallah, the radio added.
Some preventive security officers threatened not to work under the new commander, raising speculation the force might be disbanded.
Rajoub, who has said despite the dismissal he remains loyal to Arafat, said he would not comment until the meetings were finished. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
