Region | Palestinian Territories
Family killed on Israeli beach
Seven members of a Palestinian family were killed after being shot at from Israeli gunboats during a family picnic.
- Agencies
- Published: 23:33 May 3, 2009
Gaza Strip: Seven members of a Palestinian family were killed after being shot at from Israeli gunboats during a family picnic.
The artillery attack was part of a wider bombardment of suspected Palestinian rocket-launching sites. Three others were also killed during attacks on Friday.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared the attack on the beach a "genocidal crime", calling for international intervention and declaring a three-day period of mourning.
Leader of rival party Hamas, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, said the shelling was a "war crime" and urged an end to recent fighting between his party and Abbas' Fatah movement.
The Israeli army said the attacks were aimed at areas that Palestinian militants used to fire homemade rockets at Israel.
Major General Yoav Galant, Israel's southern commander, said, "I express deep regret over the fact that uninvolved persons have been hit. We shall try to find a way to ensure not to harm the uninvolved."
Palestinian officials said over 30 were wounded at the beach, as well as the Ghalia family, which lost among them the father, one of his two wives, an infant boy and an 18-month-old girl.
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