Two Palestinian teenagers killed by abandoned IDF artillery

[News_Editor]

Two Palestinian teenagers killed by abandoned IDF artillery

2010-12-11 02:10:53 GMT+7 (ICT)

GAZA STRIP (BNO NEWS) -- Two Palestinian teenagers were killed on Friday after an explosion from an abandoned Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) artillery shell in the Gaza Strip, local media reported.

The explosion occurred as the 16-year-old teenagers were playing with the explosive device left behind by IDF in the Shajaiyeh neighborhood in eastern Gaza city. One of the boys was killed instantly and the other died later due to the severe wounds sustained.

The two minors, identified as Victor Batniji and Moumin Helles, were rushed to Shifa Hospital in Gaza city. However, both 16-year-old boys were pronounced dead shortly after. IDF acknowledged the incident but said that it had nothing to do with Israel.

On early Friday, three Palestinians were wounded by IDF service members as they were shot while approaching the Gaza border fence. The three sustained non-threatening shot wounds and were reported to be in a stable condition.

IDF said that the soldiers noticed that the suspects were approaching the border and fired some warning shots. However, the individuals did not respond to them and the soldiers had 'no other alternative' than to shoot at the men's lower bodies.

Two of the men, aged between 20 and 30 years old, arrived at the Kamal Udwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya suffering gunshot wounds to the legs. In Khan Younis, a 16-year-old boy arrived at the Nasser Hospital after being shot too.

On Thursday, the IDF launched air strikes at three separate targets in the Gaza Strip. The attack was in retaliation to Wednesday's rocket attacks that wounded one man in the Eshkol regional council of the Negev area.

Since the beginning of 2010, more than 180 Grad missiles, Qassam rockets and mortar shells fired from the Gaza Strip have landed in Israeli territory.

The Israeli government holds Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization by most countries, solely responsible for maintaining the calm in the Gaza Strip and for any terrorist activity emanating from it. "The IDF will also continue to respond harshly to any attempt to use terror against the State of Israel," it warned.

In the winter of 2008-2009, Israel launched a surprise airstrike against the Gaza Strip which marked the beginning of a three-week military conflict between Israel and Hamas, killing nearly 1,500 people and leaving thousands more injured and displaced. Israel stated its aim was to stop rocket fire from and arms import into Gaza.

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