pledged to revenge a series of unprecedented Israeli air strikes on and nearby Gaza city which killed up to 14 Palestinians and wounded 80 more.
In a statement from Beirut, Lebanon, Hamas and Islamic Jihad urged all Palestinians to join together in a coordinated response to what was termed "the Zionist aggression against Palestinians."
At least eight members of Hamas were reportedly killed in the air strikes, which involved helicopter gunships as well as fighter planes and began in the pre-dawn hours Monday, October 20 and continued until well after dark.
One of the attacks later in the day on the densely populated Nusseirat refugee camp killed three Palestinians. In another, Israeli troops killed two men they said were trying to infiltrate into Israel from the Gaza Strip with devices strapped to their bodies.
HAMAS LEADER KILLED
The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) said Imad Akel, a senior member of the Hamas military who is believed to have ordered them to infiltrate an Israeli Kibbutz across the Gaza-Israel border, was later killed himself when Israeli helicopters hit his car.
Missiles were fired as the vehicle sped away from the scene of the attempted border infiltration into the densely populated town of Nusseirat south of Gaza City, reports said.
It was unclear whether the first of two missile strikes fired at the vehicle killed the four passengers – but the second reportedly struck local Palestinians who rushed to the scene to help members of the targeted Hamas cell.
CIVILIANS ALSO SUFFER
Some five civilians, including a doctor were killed and some 50 wounded in the most deadly of five similar strikes unleashed at terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip throughout the previous day, the ICEJ News Service and other reports said.
Russia, one of the co-sponsors of the now shattered Middle East peace process, was among countries criticizing the airstrikes and expressed its condolences to families of civilian victims, including children.
"The disproportionate use of weapons as well as an exclusive emphasis on force won’t bring peace to either the Palestinians, or the Israelis, and they won’t stop terror," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"NEW TRAGEDIES"
"Just the opposite, it will trigger another round of confrontation, bring new tragedies and suffering."
Asked Tuesday, October 21, about the civilian casualties Deputy Defense Minister Ze’ev Boim accused the Palestinian terrorists of hiding behind the civilian population. "Not all are innocent there," Boim told Israel Radio, monitored by the ICEJ News Service.
"Certainly not those who store lathes [for producing Qassam rockets] and weaponry, bombs, and Qassams in their homes."
Army spokeswoman, Brig. Gen. Ruth Yaron reportedly told Army Radio that, "the primary responsibility of the (Israeli Defence Forces) is to defend Israeli citizens. The blood of the victims in Gaza is on the hands of the terrorists."
EMBASSY ISSUES TRAVEL WARNING
As the bloodshed continued, the United States Embassy in Tel Aviv issued a fresh travel warning for Americans. "The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer travel to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza," the embassy said in a statement seen by BosNewsLife.
"Ongoing violence has caused numerous civilian deaths and injuries, including to some American tourists, students and residents, as well as to U.S. Mission personnel. The potential for further terrorist acts remains high."
The embassy added that "the situation in Israel, Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank remains extremely volatile with continuing terrorist attacks, confrontations and clashes. In light of the lethal terrorist attack on U.S. Mission personnel in Gaza on October 15, 2003, the Department of State recommends that all U.S. citizens depart Gaza."
U.S. ENVOY LEAVES
The Voice of America (VOA) network quoted U.S. officials as "confirming" that the head of the American team monitoring implementation of the Roadmap to Peace is not planning to return to the region anytime soon.
John Wolf left for the U.S. a month ago saying that he planned to be back in 10 days. The Palestinian bombing of an American convoy in Gaza last week that killed three American security guards lead to expectations that Washington would scale back its involvement in the peace process.
