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4 Palestinians Die in Blast From Ordnance Found in Gaza War’s Rubble 4 Palestinians Die in Blast From Ordnance Found in Gaza War’s Rubble
(about 3 hours later)
GAZA CITY — Four Palestinians from one extended family were killed and more than 40 others were wounded on Thursday after military ordnance exploded in Gaza as residents cleared the rubble of their homes a year after the war with Israel.GAZA CITY — Four Palestinians from one extended family were killed and more than 40 others were wounded on Thursday after military ordnance exploded in Gaza as residents cleared the rubble of their homes a year after the war with Israel.
The toll made it the deadliest explosion to rock Gaza since the 50-day conflict last summer between Israel and Palestinian militants, officials from local human rights organizations said. It was not immediately clear whether the ordnance was left by Israeli or Palestinian forces.The toll made it the deadliest explosion to rock Gaza since the 50-day conflict last summer between Israel and Palestinian militants, officials from local human rights organizations said. It was not immediately clear whether the ordnance was left by Israeli or Palestinian forces.
Also Thursday, a driver in the West Bank plowed his car into pedestrians at a bus stop near a Jewish settlement, seriously wounding two Israeli soldiers, who were airlifted to a Jerusalem hospital, Israeli Army radio reported. Soldiers quickly shot the driver, believed to be Palestinian, who was also in serious condition, the radio reported.Also Thursday, a driver in the West Bank plowed his car into pedestrians at a bus stop near a Jewish settlement, seriously wounding two Israeli soldiers, who were airlifted to a Jerusalem hospital, Israeli Army radio reported. Soldiers quickly shot the driver, believed to be Palestinian, who was also in serious condition, the radio reported.
No Palestinian groups claimed responsibility for the attack, although the militant group Hamas praised it. It may have been another so-called lone-wolf attack, in which individual Palestinians, without any leadership or planning, attack Israeli soldiers and civilians with their cars, knives or guns.No Palestinian groups claimed responsibility for the attack, although the militant group Hamas praised it. It may have been another so-called lone-wolf attack, in which individual Palestinians, without any leadership or planning, attack Israeli soldiers and civilians with their cars, knives or guns.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel commended the Israeli soldiers for their quick response and called on world leaders to condemn the attack. It was a pointed reference to an arson attack on Friday that killed a Palestinian baby in the West Bank, which was swiftly condemned in Israel and worldwide.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel commended the Israeli soldiers for their quick response and called on world leaders to condemn the attack. It was a pointed reference to an arson attack on Friday that killed a Palestinian baby in the West Bank, which was swiftly condemned in Israel and worldwide.
The car attack was the latest episode of violence in a summer marked by them.The car attack was the latest episode of violence in a summer marked by them.
The explosion in Gaza occurred in a crowded refugee camp in the southern city of Rafah. The Abu Naqeira family was clearing the ruins of its home in the Shaboura neighborhood, said a relative, Rabi Abu Naqeira, 26, a local journalist. Contractors had been clearing away heavy rubble in the neighborhood for two or three days for residents hoping to rebuild their homes, he said. The explosion in Gaza occurred in a crowded refugee camp in the southern city of Rafah. Members of the Abu Naqeira family were clearing the ruins of their ome in the Shaboura neighborhood, said a relative, Rabi Abu Naqeira, 26, a local journalist. Contractors had been clearing away heavy rubble in the neighborhood for two or three days for residents hoping to rebuild their homes, he said.
“People thought the bombs had exploded already, when they were being shelled,” he said.“People thought the bombs had exploded already, when they were being shelled,” he said.
The four men killed in the blast were all from the Abu Naqeira family — the journalist’s uncle, two cousins and his brother-in-law. One of the dead, Abdul-Rahman Abu Naqeira, was a Hamas fighter, said a spokesman for the group’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades. The spokesman said Mr. Abu Naqeira was killed in an “accidental explosion.” The four men killed in the blast were all from the Abu Naqeira family — the journalist’s uncle, two cousins and his brother-in-law. One of the dead, Abdul-Rahman Abu Naqeira, was a Hamas fighter, said a spokesman for the group’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades. The spokesman, known as Abu Obeida, said Mr. Abu Naqeira was killed in an “accidental explosion.”
Ashraf al-Qedra, a spokesman for Gaza’s Health Ministry, said the death toll was likely to rise, citing the injuries of some of the wounded. He said 43 people were wounded, eight seriously.Ashraf al-Qedra, a spokesman for Gaza’s Health Ministry, said the death toll was likely to rise, citing the injuries of some of the wounded. He said 43 people were wounded, eight seriously.
People nearby reported hearing a series of explosions that shook adjacent neighborhoods, damaging or destroying at least 10 homes.People nearby reported hearing a series of explosions that shook adjacent neighborhoods, damaging or destroying at least 10 homes.
The blast terrified children, who thought a new war had begun, said Anees Mansour, a Rafah resident who works for pro-Palestinian organizations.The blast terrified children, who thought a new war had begun, said Anees Mansour, a Rafah resident who works for pro-Palestinian organizations.
“The children tried to find somewhere safe to hide — me,” said Mr. Mansour, speaking of his sister’s children, who were with him when they heard the explosion, nearly a mile away. “They held me — one to my T-shirt, another to my jeans.”“The children tried to find somewhere safe to hide — me,” said Mr. Mansour, speaking of his sister’s children, who were with him when they heard the explosion, nearly a mile away. “They held me — one to my T-shirt, another to my jeans.”
Another person living nearby reported hearing a series of explosions and seeing a large plume of smoke and wounded children. The resident, who gave his name as Abu Khalil, fearing to be identified as criticizing Hamas, said the ordnance might have been rockets stored by the group’s militants.Another person living nearby reported hearing a series of explosions and seeing a large plume of smoke and wounded children. The resident, who gave his name as Abu Khalil, fearing to be identified as criticizing Hamas, said the ordnance might have been rockets stored by the group’s militants.
Iyad al-Buzum, a spokesman with the Gaza Interior Ministry, said in a Facebook post that the Hamas government had begun an investigation into the explosions.Iyad al-Buzum, a spokesman with the Gaza Interior Ministry, said in a Facebook post that the Hamas government had begun an investigation into the explosions.
Last year, six people, including an Associated Press video journalist and a Palestinian interpreter, were killed when Gaza police engineers tried to defuse unexploded Israeli ordnance.Last year, six people, including an Associated Press video journalist and a Palestinian interpreter, were killed when Gaza police engineers tried to defuse unexploded Israeli ordnance.