Two settlers wounded in third operation in Al-Khalil this month

[ 27/09/2010 - 09:14 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Palestinian resistance on Sunday targeted two cars of Israeli settlers south of Mount Al-Khalil, leaving at least two settlers injured.

The attacks were timed to coincide with Israel’s announcement to resume settlement activity in the West Bank Sunday night Sept. 26.

Israeli media said two Israeli settlers, both aging 35 years, were injured after fire was opened at their cars on Sunday night while passing near an Israeli settlement south of Mount Al-Khalil.

Israeli radio said the attack resulted in damage to the cars and the wounded settlers were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Israeli occupation forces (IOF) carried out an extensive sweep of the area in search of the operators.

The PIC reporter said a large force of IOF soldiers was deployed in surrounding areas of Al-Khalil after the settlement was attacked in the operation.

The attack was the third of its kind in the West Bank this month. Four settlers were killed earlier and two wounded in similar operations in Al-Khalil and Ramallah adopted by the Hamas armed wing of the Qassam Brigades.

Hamas praised the operation, stressing that it “came in the context of resistance operations against the crimes of Israeli occupation.”

Hamas Spokesman Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri told the PIC Sunday that the new Al-Khalil operation came in the context of continued resistance operations against Israel’s crimes, particularly the crime of settlement activity, which occurs in light of the cover of continued direct negotiations with the Fatah authority.

The Palestinian leader said the operation proves the failure of security crackdown operations carried out in the West Bank recently.

The PIC correspondent said the Palestinian Authority security militia disappeared from the streets of south A-Khalil shortly after the attack.

IOF troops closed the southern entrances of the town of Al-Dhahiriya along the Teneh settlement, which is the location of the operation, informed sources told the correspondent on Sunday, adding that the Israeli army now has a heavy presence in the area.

The sources expect the IOF soldiers will head out for the Al-Khalil town of Dhahiriya to search for the operators of the attack.

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