Invading Israeli tanks have shelled houses located in the Al-Shija’iyeh area in eastern Gaza. The shelling on Wednesday afternoon has killed three Palestinians. Medical sources identified the three victims as Khalil Ijha, Sami Manasra, and Yousef Manassra. The latest Israeli military offensive in the Gaza strip has so far claimed the lives of 13 Palestinians, among them a child, and left 40 injured, among them seven in critical conditions.

Two Palestinian resistance fighters, named as Nafiz Mahmoud Hillis, 27, and Ahmad Ayyad Hillis, 18, were also reported to have been killed on Wednesday midday in armed clashes with the invading Israeli troops in the eastern part of the city. The two men were members of Al Aqsa Brigades, the armed wing of Fatah.

Earlier on Wednesday, Palestinian Medical sources reported that five Palestinians, including a child, were killed and several others wounded in the Al-Shija’iyeh neighborhood in eastern Gaza, when Israeli tanks and artillery shelled the crowded residential area in the early hours of the morning. The four were identified as Wisam Al-Shaer, Ahmad Zuhdi Hillis of the Al-Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, Nafez Hillis of the Al-Aqsa brigades, the armed wing of Fatah, senior Islamic Jihad resistance fighter Ra'ed Fanuna and Ahmad Abbad Hillis, a bystander. Palestinian medical sources also identified the wounded as Mahmoud, Wala’ and Ali, all from the Hillis Family.

The Israeli attacks on Gaza Strip come one day after a four-way summit in Egypt, in which Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met. The summit was meant, according to Egyptian officials who called for the summit, to boost Abbas and his emergency government.

In a separate incident, Israeli forces invaded the Abu Reida area, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, and clashed with resistance fighters. The clashes claimed the lives of Dia’ Abu Dakka of Al-Quds brigade.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that the Israeli army used Palestinian civilians as human shields as they invaded the city, with the same sources reporting that the army invaded several homes, taking up position on the rooftops. At the time of this report, the operation is still ongoing.

A seventh Palestinian was killed in an Israeli air strike which targeted his car in the Al-Shija’yeh neighbourhood in Gaza city. Eyewitnesses said an Israeli Helicopter fired at least one missile at a white Mitsubishi car which was driving in a residential area near the police station.

Local residents also reported that Israeli tanks shelled a civilian house which belonging to Qassem Jindiyeh on early Wednesday morning. Medical sources reported that two were wounded and were taken to Al-Shifa Hospital for treatment.

Palestinian security sources said at least 15 Israeli military vehicles invaded the Gaza Strip from the Karni border crossing and clashed with the resistance fighters.

Unconfirmed reports said the resistance fighters damaged an Israeli tank. No comment has been made by the Israeli army in this regard.

Sources:  http://www.imemc.org/article/49190