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The November 2006 Beit Hanoun massacre occured on November 8 2006 when the Israel Defense Forces shelled the Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, killed at least 19 Palestinian civilians and wounding more than 40. 4 women and 9 children were among the killed It occured right after the end of the Israeli Operation Autumn Clouds in the same town. Template:Arab-Israeli conflict 2006
The massacre
Palestinian officials said a barrage of tank shells hit civilian homes and that ten children and seven women were among the dead, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, adding that 18 of the victims were members of the Athamna family. The Palestinian Health Ministry said that all of those killed were civilians. According to witnesses, the victims were sleeping when the 15-minute barrage of shells first hit. Radi also said at least 40 people were wounded, all civilians. Four hospitals are treating the wounded across Gaza.
Reactions
The Palestinian prime minister, Hamas's Ismail Haniya, denounced the Israeli attack as an "awful massacre" and said talks on forming more moderate Palestinian unity government would be suspended. Palestinian moderate president, Mahmoud Abbas said "...ugly massacre committed by the occupation against our children, our women and elderly...you (the Israelis) do not want peace at all..."
Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz ordered the halt in artillery attacks and called for an urgent inquiry into the incident. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed regret over the killings and offered humanitarian assistance to the wounded.
A local Hamas leader has called for the group to resume suicide bombings inside Israel, a policy suspended two years ago by the main militant faction.
The EU called the massacre "a profoundly shocking event". Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa said "Israeli policies in the Palestinian territories have gone too far."
References
- Children among 19 killed by Israeli tank fire, The Guardian
- Children among 19 killed by Israeli tank fire, The Guardian
- Israeli fire kills scores in Gaza; Palestinians, world slam attack, AFP
- Israeli fire kills scores in Gaza; Palestinians, world slam attack, AFP