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Cross-border attacks kill six, wound three
Egypt tries to forge cease-fire between Israelis and Hamas
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Published: May 10, 2008
Gaza attackers sent mortar shells crashing into a border community last night, killing an Israeli in his garden and wounding three others, officials said. Israel responded with missile attacks that left five Hamas militants dead.
The violence added pressure on Egyptian-led attempts to stop clashes between Gaza militants and the Israeli military.
Gaza's ruling Hamas movement claimed responsibility for the mortar fire on Kfar Aza, a communal farm in southern Israel.
Hours later, Israeli aircraft fired missiles that hit two Hamas police stations in southern Gaza, killing five militants, Hamas and Gaza health officials said. The Israeli military confirmed the airstrike and said it was responding to attacks on Israel, including the mortar attack.
Palestinian militants frequently fire crude rockets and mortar shells into southern Israel from Gaza and have killed 14 people since late 2001.
"Hamas is clearly in control of the Gaza Strip and responsible for all hostile fire into Israel. We hold it accountable for today's attack and the murder of our civilian," said David Baker, an Israeli government spokesman.
Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas' military wing, said that militants had targeted an Israeli military position, but the mortar shell went astray.
Residents milled around the tidy lawn where the 48-year-old Israeli's body lay. Shrapnel pocked the front of his house. His identity was not disclosed because one of his four children had not yet been notified of his death. Israeli rescue officials said that three people were wounded by shrapnel.
The military said yesterday that Palestinian militants have fired 1,950 mortar shells and rockets at Israel since Jan. 1 — almost equal to the amount fired in all of 2007.
The attacks often provoke Israeli airstrikes and ground incursions, although hostilities have ebbed since more than 120 Palestinians were killed in a flare-up of violence two months ago.
Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman is expected in Israel early next week to discuss his efforts to forge a cease-fire from the two sides.
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