IDF raids extremists’ stronghold
IDF, police forces evacuate far right activists that had barricaded themselves in a Gush Katif building for fear Palestinians would retaliate after Palestinian youth mortally wounded in clashes
GUSH KATIF - (Video) IDF and Israel Police forces raided Wednesday a building in the Muasi area in Gaza and evacuated the far right activists that had barricaded themselves in the structure.
According to the IDF, a terror alert was received regarding Palestinian retaliation after a Palestinian youth was mortally wounded from stones hurled at him by settlers during clashes between settlers and Palestinians near the Tal Yam settler outpost on Wednesday.
Palestinian hurt in clashes (Photo: Reuters)
According to the Palestinians, the youth was attacked by a group of far right activists, and an IDF soldier present was unable to defend him.
Earlier IDF Southern Command Chief Major-General Dan Harel declared the area a closed military zone to prevent the possible abduction of Israelis or a terror attack on Israeli targets.
See video of clashes (courtesy of Channel 10):
16-year-old Haled el-Astal was mortally wounded, two other Palestinians were seriously injured and two sustained medium injuries in the clashes that erupted after dozens of far right activists established an illegal outpost in a Palestinian house near the Gaza Strip settlement of Shirat Hayam.
A soldier and settler were lightly wounded in the altercation.
According to the Palestinians, the IDF is not doing enough to protect them from settler attacks.
'Sharon is a traitor'
At around 7 p.m. (11 a.m. EDT) the first IDF and police force entered the five-story building and within minutes was able to isolate the far right activists in the third floor.
Photographers and reporters were cleared from the area, and at 8 p.m. (1 p.m. EDT) the security forces began evacuating the activists from the premises.
The building is expected to be sealed off and guarded to prevent another attempt by activists to seize it.
During the evacuation the activists hurled a burning tire at the soldiers and police officers. No one was injured.
Ten youths who had barricaded themselves in the building, which is owned by a Palestinian Authority clerk, were detained.
The security forces found in the building graffito that read,” Kahane was right,” “Sharon is a traitor,” and “We will stop the evacuation.”
Last Sunday far right activists seized control of the building after the IDF razed 11 deserted structures in the area.
During the past few days, dozens of far right youths, most of them West Bank residents, have stayed in the building. The Gush Katif residents who stayed in the building during the first night had left the building due to disagreements with their West Bank cohorts.
