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14 killed in israeli airstrike Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2004/s1194164.htmhttp://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2004/s1194164.htm
PM - 14 killed in Israeli airstrike
PM - Tuesday, 7 September , 2004 18:38:40
Reporter: Mark Willacy
MARK COLVIN: In one of the single deadliest strikes in four years of violence, Israel has killed at least 14 Palestinians at an alleged terrorist training camp in the Gaza Strip.
Israel says it launched missiles at a sports field in Gaza because Hamas was using it to train militants to make bombs and fire rockets.
Predictably, Hamas is vowing revenge and saying its war against Israel will continue unabated.
Middle East Correspondent, Mark Willacy, reports from Jerusalem.
(sound of crowd yelling)
MARK WILLACY: It was right on the stroke of midnight that the first of at least four Israeli missiles slammed into its target. The blasts tore through a group of Hamas supporters, the force of the explosion spread body parts across the football field, and left patches of dirt soaked in blood.
In one of the single deadliest strikes in recent memory, Israel killed at least 14 Hamas members.
(sound of men yelling "shahid")
"Shahid", cry these men, declaring the dead martyrs to the Palestinian cause.
Hamas says the gathering at the football field was a summer camp for Palestinian youth. Israel says it was a training camp for terrorists.
Israeli Government spokesman, Ranaan Gissen.
RANAAN GISSEN: The target that we strike was not an innocent soccer field – that soccer field was the major training camp of the Hamas. As a matter of fact, the 14 terrorists that were killed in the air force attack were all armed men belonging to Hamas in a training session preparing for future attacks on Israel with, I would say, roadside explosives, preparing suicide belts, preparing attacks against Israeli vehicles in order to kidnap Israeli soldiers. So what we did there as to disrupt the major effort of Hamas to prepare future attacks against Israel.
MARK WILLACY: Certainly the wounded from the strike were all wearing combat fatigues, and some sported black balaclavas and green Hamas headbands.
Predictably, Hamas is threatening bloody revenge.
Spokesman Mushir al-Masri.
MUSHIR AL-MASRI (translated): We say to the Zionist occupiers that there will be no safety and security for them on our land until the Palestinian children safe and secure on theirs.
MARK WILLACY: Few on either side of this conflict feel secure. And Israel had vowed to go after Hamas even harder after a twin suicide attack last week.
(sound of sirens)
The bombings on two buses in the southern city of Beersheva left 16 dead, and it again prompted warnings from Israel that it would hit Hamas leaders wherever they were.
But this latest strike in Gaza proves that Israel is just as prepared to go after Hamas' willing young recruits.
This is Mark Willacy in Jerusalem, for PM.
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