Roundup: Israeli airstrike kills two senior militants in Gaza

An Israeli airstrike killed two senior Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip Tuesday afternoon as Israel continued its offensive against extremists.

Medical and security officials said Hassan al-Madhoun, a senior Gaza commander of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of the Fatah movement, and Fawzi Abu Quran, who belonged to Hamas armed wing al-Qassam Brigades, were killed.

The two were in a jeep traveling outside the Jabalya refugee camp when they were targeted by an unmanned Israeli plane. Ambulances and firefighters rushed to the scene and struggled to remove the remains of the two.

The Al Aqsa Brigades vowed to avenge the attack.

An Israeli army spokesman said the airstrike was to eliminate Hassan al-Madhoun, who was responsible for firing rockets at Israel over the last few days.

Israeli media reported that al-Madhoun was responsible for the deaths of 20 Israelis and had dispatched bombers who carried out deadly attacks at the Israeli port of Ashdod and Gaza Strip Karni crossing.

He also attempted to send a bomber to a hospital in the Israeli city of Beersheeba. This attack was foiled.

The Israeli airstrike came shortly after a convoy carrying Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas passed by.

Palestinian sources said that Abbas is intending to spend the holiday of Eid el Fetter in Gaza after the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Meanwhile, Israeli security officials said on Tuesday that Palestinian and Israeli teams will meet again later in the day over the issue of reopening Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.

The Israeli cabinet agreed on Tuesday to allow both the Palestinians and Egypt to operate the crossing with observation of a third European party.

Palestinian sources said chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat will head the Palestinian team, while Amos Gild, chief of political and security department of the Israeli army, will head the Israeli team in the meeting.

On Tuesday, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei slammed the Israeli government, saying that it is controlled by the force of arrogance and will never make peace.

Source: Xinhua