Israel Expresses Regret Over the Deaths of Four Palestinians - 2002-08-29

Israeli officials have expressed regret over the deaths of four Palestinians due to Israeli forces' gunfire. The victims, a Palestinian woman, her two adult sons, and a relative, were killed early this morning during an Israeli raid on a coastal village in the southern Gaza Strip at their home. Palestinians report that four others were also injured. Israeli Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer has ordered an investigation into the matter. The Palestinian group Hamas has vowed to take revenge. The Israeli army states that the reason for the tank incursion was suspicious movements observed in an area near a Jewish settlement that Palestinians are prohibited from entering. In the latest news, the Israeli Defense Minister expressed regret over the army's action in killing four Palestinian civilians in Gaza during the early hours of Thursday. Benjamin Ben-Eliezer referred to the victims, consisting of a mother, her two adult sons, and another relative, as 'innocent' and has ordered an investigation. Israeli military sources say that the tank that raided southern Gaza was triggered by a 'suspicious movement' in an area near a Jewish settlement that Palestinians are banned from entering. Subsequently, on Thursday, Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian boy who, along with other children, was throwing stones at the Israeli tanks. At that time, the Israeli tanks were engaged in demolishing buildings in the Rafah area in southern Gaza. Palestinians claim that Israeli forces also destroyed a Palestinian government building.