Hamas Vows Revenge for "Israeli" Crimes

Source: Al-Manar TV, 13-11-2008
Palestinian resistance fighters in the Gaza Strip fired at least five mortar shells and one Qassam rocket early Thursday at the western Negev, "Israeli" Army Radio reported. The barrage came after Hamas threatened to avenge the shooting deaths of four of its members a day earlier on the occupied territories-Gaza border.
The incident began at the border fence near the central Gaza town of Khan Yunis when the "Israeli" occupation troops opened fire on the resistance fighters, whom the occupation army claimed they were trying to lay an explosive device near the fence.
During an ensuing gunbattle, a number of mortar shells were fired at the "Israeli" troops and an explosive device was detonated, according to the army. One occupation soldier sustained a light wound to his hand, and was taken for treatment to the Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva.
Palestinian Health Ministry official Dr. Moawiya Hassanain said ambulances later retrieved the bodies of four Hamas resistance fghters from the area of fighting. They were identified as Mahmoud Siam, Rami Farina, Mohsen al-Kudra and Ismail Abu al-Allah.
Hamas' military wing threatened retaliation, and within hours of the incident on Wednesday, at least six shells and two rockets exploded in the Negev.
"The anger of our people and our resistance will reach everybody, God willing, and our response to the enemy will be painful, and will spill the Zionists' blood," the wing's spokesman, Abu Obeida, said in a statement following the gunbattle.
The fragile five-month truce began to unravel on November 4 when the occupation troops killed the Hamas resistance fighters in addition to one in the Islamic Jihad resistance group. Since then "Israeli" forces have crossed the border at least twice.
"Israeli" War Minister Ehud Barak addressed the incident during a visit to Military Intelligence headquarters in Tel Aviv.
"This morning, very near the spot where last week a ticking tunnel was uncovered, a clash took place involving the same young paratroopers we met on our tour [of the Gaza border] yesterday," he said, praising their quick response.
Hamas stopped short of saying the truce was over, but said resistance fighters would fight any entry of occupation troops into Gaza.
"This is a clear violation of the truce, and the resistance has every right to respond to an attack," said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum.
The latest clash came one day after "Israeli" Prime Minister Ehud Olmert visited the occupation army's Southern Command, where he was briefed on the preparations being made by a Hamas-led coalition of resistance groups.
"Israel" and Hamas were on an inevitable collision course, Olmert said following the briefing. "It is merely a question of when and not a question of if," he warned.