“Israeli” fighter jets strike children on way to school 15-year old killed, teacher critically injured

Source: MAAN News Agency, 6-11-2006
Gaza - Ma`an - A Palestinian teenage boy was killed and eight others were injured, including a teacher, when they were struck by an "Israeli" rocket while on their way to school in the Zayed area of Beit Lahiya in the Gaza Strip on Monday morning.
A member of the Al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, was also killed in an air strike on Monday morning.
With these deaths, the death toll in Gaza has now risen to 53 and more than 250 Palestinians have been injured since the start of the "Israeli" military offensive `Operation Autumn Clouds` on the Gaza Strip six days ago.
Our correspondent reported that an "Israeli" jet fired a rocket at a car carrying Palestinians, including some Palestinian fighters. The rocket missed the car and hit the children who were on their way to their school. Ramzi Sharafi, 15, was killed and eight others were injured, including a female teacher whose wounds are said to be critical. The injured were transferred to Ash-Shifa`a Hospital in Gaza City.
Medical sources have also confirmed that Mahmoud Taha, a member of the Hamas-affiliated Al Qassam Brigades, was killed in an air strike on the Sha`af neighborhood, east of Shaja`iyya in east Gaza City on Monday morning.
According to eyewitnesses, "Israeli" fighter jets launched a rocket at a group of Palestinians, killing Taha and injuring many others.
In addition, a member of the Fatah-affiliated Al Aqsa Brigades was injured in an air raid that took place near the horse-riding club in Beit Lahiya, in the north of the Gaza Strip.
In another incident, "Israeli" fighter jets launched a rocket at a group of armed Palestinians near the American school north of Beit Lahiya. No casualties were reported.
Meanwhile, "Israeli" radio reported that the operation in Beit Hanoun may last for another two days, according to "Israeli" army sources.
A high-ranking "Israeli" officer said that dozens of Palestinians were arrested during the incursion into Beit Hanoun. He added that 15 of them will be sent to "Israel" for interrogation.
He added that the "Israeli" force has found many explosive devices during their raids into the Gaza Strip. These devices are more developed than others used in the past, he told "Israeli" radio.
The "Israeli" military has claimed that they embarked on this bloody assault on Beit Hanoun "in order to search the area for (so-called) `terrorists`, weaponry storage facilities, explosives, bunkers and tunnels and to damage the infrastructure used by the rocket launchers."