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Islamic militants praise 'heroic' slaughter of pregnant woman, 4 daughters
Islamic militants praise 'heroic' slaughter of pregnant woman, 4 daughters
Family photo
Tali Khotel is seen here with her four daughters and husband David. Tali, who was 8 months pregnant, and, from left, Hadar, 9, Roni, 7, Hila, 11, and Merav, 2, were killed by Palestinian gunmen Sunday.
Associated Press
May. 3, 2004 08:30 AM
KISSUFIM CROSSING, Gaza Strip - Palestinian militants attacked an Israeli vehicle near a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip, killing four children and their mother, the Israeli army said. Two attackers were killed.
The attack near the entrance to the Gush Katif bloc of settlements came as the ruling Likud Party was holding a referendum on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to pull out of Gaza. It was unclear how the attack would affect the vote.
The militants opened fire - killing the five family members and wounding a motorist in a second vehicle - before detonating a bomb, the army spokesman said.
Two soldiers were wounded by gunfire, and the attackers were killed by return fire, the army said.
Police said the white Citroen station wagon spun off the road after the initial shooting, then the attackers approached the vehicle and shot the occupants at close range.
The car was riddled with bullets, and the carpet inside was stained with blood. Israel Radio reported the mother had been on her way to protest against Sharon's Gaza withdrawal plan. On the car was a bumper sticker saying, "Uprooting the settlements, victory for terror."
Settlers said the family lived in the Katif settlement in central Gaza.
Israel Radio said a car belonging to CNN television had prevented further bloodshed by blocking the road after shooting broke out. There was no immediate comment from CNN.
The militant Islamic Jihad and Popular Resistance Committees, an umbrella group, claimed responsibility for the "heroic" attack in a call to The Associated Press.
The group said the attack was in response to Israel's recent assassinations of the founder of the Hamas militant group, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, and his successor, Abdel Aziz Rantisi.
"The attack is part of the Palestinian reprisals for the daily crimes committed by the Israeli army against the Palestinian people, especially the killings of Yassin and Rantisi," the group said.
Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz canceled scheduled appearances Sunday and planned to convene with top security officials to plan a response to the attack, military sources said.
The attack was the deadliest on Israeli settlers in Gaza in many months, and it was unclear how it would affect Sunday's vote. Polls have shown voters are closely divided over the withdrawal plan.
Sharon has said his plan would boost Israel's security in the absence of a peace agreement with the Palestinians. His opponents have accused Sharon of caving in to Palestinian militants.
"People have to look us in the eyes and not throw us out of our houses," Avner Shimoni, a Gaza settler leader, told Army Radio. "We paid a very heavy price today."
There has been a spike in Gaza violence since Sharon announced his intentions to exit the territory several months ago, with each side trying to claim victory ahead of a withdrawal.
Israel had gone on high security alert Sunday ahead of the referendum, dividing Gaza into three sections and restricting Palestinian travel.
Family photo
Tali Khotel is seen here with her four daughters and husband David. Tali, who was 8 months pregnant, and, from left, Hadar, 9, Roni, 7, Hila, 11, and Merav, 2, were killed by Palestinian gunmen Sunday.
Associated Press
May. 3, 2004 08:30 AM
KISSUFIM CROSSING, Gaza Strip - Palestinian militants attacked an Israeli vehicle near a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip, killing four children and their mother, the Israeli army said. Two attackers were killed.
The attack near the entrance to the Gush Katif bloc of settlements came as the ruling Likud Party was holding a referendum on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to pull out of Gaza. It was unclear how the attack would affect the vote.
The militants opened fire - killing the five family members and wounding a motorist in a second vehicle - before detonating a bomb, the army spokesman said.
Two soldiers were wounded by gunfire, and the attackers were killed by return fire, the army said.
Police said the white Citroen station wagon spun off the road after the initial shooting, then the attackers approached the vehicle and shot the occupants at close range.
The car was riddled with bullets, and the carpet inside was stained with blood. Israel Radio reported the mother had been on her way to protest against Sharon's Gaza withdrawal plan. On the car was a bumper sticker saying, "Uprooting the settlements, victory for terror."
Settlers said the family lived in the Katif settlement in central Gaza.
Israel Radio said a car belonging to CNN television had prevented further bloodshed by blocking the road after shooting broke out. There was no immediate comment from CNN.
The militant Islamic Jihad and Popular Resistance Committees, an umbrella group, claimed responsibility for the "heroic" attack in a call to The Associated Press.
The group said the attack was in response to Israel's recent assassinations of the founder of the Hamas militant group, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, and his successor, Abdel Aziz Rantisi.
"The attack is part of the Palestinian reprisals for the daily crimes committed by the Israeli army against the Palestinian people, especially the killings of Yassin and Rantisi," the group said.
Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz canceled scheduled appearances Sunday and planned to convene with top security officials to plan a response to the attack, military sources said.
The attack was the deadliest on Israeli settlers in Gaza in many months, and it was unclear how it would affect Sunday's vote. Polls have shown voters are closely divided over the withdrawal plan.
Sharon has said his plan would boost Israel's security in the absence of a peace agreement with the Palestinians. His opponents have accused Sharon of caving in to Palestinian militants.
"People have to look us in the eyes and not throw us out of our houses," Avner Shimoni, a Gaza settler leader, told Army Radio. "We paid a very heavy price today."
There has been a spike in Gaza violence since Sharon announced his intentions to exit the territory several months ago, with each side trying to claim victory ahead of a withdrawal.
Israel had gone on high security alert Sunday ahead of the referendum, dividing Gaza into three sections and restricting Palestinian travel.
'There is no one left' - family tragedy marks Mideast violence
May 3, 2004
By Ariel Schalit
Ashkelon, Israel - David Hatuel wept in front of five mounds of brown soil, the fresh graves of his pregnant wife and four daughters - his entire family.
"I am all alone, there is no one left," he said in a whisper.
Hatuel's family was shot dead by Palestinian gunmen as they drove from their home in a Gaza Strip settlement to the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon yesterday - where they were buried five hours later.
The deadly ambush came as members of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Likud Party voted on his plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.
Tali Hatuel (34) - who was eight months pregnant - was on the way with her four children, Hila (11); Hadar (9); Roni (7); and Merav (2); to campaign against the plan when two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on the car, sending it skidding off the road.
The gunmen ran toward the car shooting the occupants again and again at almost point blank range, the army and witnesses said.
TV footage showed rescue workers sifting through the white Citroen station wagon, a poster reading "A Jewish heart votes no" plastered across the car hood.
A medic wiped blood off a baby seat, two small bright pink shoes lay on the blood-soaked carpet of the bullet-riddled car.
Settlers and opponents of the Sharon plan have said a withdrawal from Gaza would be a reward for attacks like these. A bumper sticker on the back of the car read "Uprooting the settlements - a victory for terror".
At the funeral, David Hatuel apologised to his family for spending so much time away from them campaigning against the plan to uproot the Gaza homes.
"Only on Friday, the girls drew me a picture and said 'Daddy, we are so proud of you for working so hard to save our home," he said, calling his daughters, his "flowers".
"Tali," he said, "everything I have, everything I did, I did for her."
Tali Hatuel was a social worker and counselled the families of victims from attacks by Palestinian militants, friends said.
"She was quiet and shy ... she was a very serious person," her neighbour Ezra Haidu said.
The militant Islamic Jihad and Popular Resistance Committees, an umbrella group, claimed responsibility for what it called the "heroic" attack.
"The blood of the holy warriors will be united to become bombs of death and fear in the hearts of the enemy," read a statement on the Web site of the Popular Resistance Committee.
Twenty-six-year-old Faisal Abu Naqira and a fellow Islamic Jihad militant were credited with the fatal attack.
In Gaza City, about 1 500 people joined an Islamic Jihad march celebrating the attack. Islamic Jihad said the attack was in response to Israel's assassination of Hamas leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz Rantisi.
"The goal of this attack was to confirm the continuation of the resistance," said Khader Habib, an Islamic Jihad leader in Gaza.
Last night, an Israeli helicopter fired three missiles at a 14-storey Palestinian building in the middle of Gaza City in revenge for the Hatuel family killings. - Reuters
May 3, 2004
By Ariel Schalit
Ashkelon, Israel - David Hatuel wept in front of five mounds of brown soil, the fresh graves of his pregnant wife and four daughters - his entire family.
"I am all alone, there is no one left," he said in a whisper.
Hatuel's family was shot dead by Palestinian gunmen as they drove from their home in a Gaza Strip settlement to the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon yesterday - where they were buried five hours later.
The deadly ambush came as members of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Likud Party voted on his plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.
Tali Hatuel (34) - who was eight months pregnant - was on the way with her four children, Hila (11); Hadar (9); Roni (7); and Merav (2); to campaign against the plan when two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on the car, sending it skidding off the road.
The gunmen ran toward the car shooting the occupants again and again at almost point blank range, the army and witnesses said.
TV footage showed rescue workers sifting through the white Citroen station wagon, a poster reading "A Jewish heart votes no" plastered across the car hood.
A medic wiped blood off a baby seat, two small bright pink shoes lay on the blood-soaked carpet of the bullet-riddled car.
Settlers and opponents of the Sharon plan have said a withdrawal from Gaza would be a reward for attacks like these. A bumper sticker on the back of the car read "Uprooting the settlements - a victory for terror".
At the funeral, David Hatuel apologised to his family for spending so much time away from them campaigning against the plan to uproot the Gaza homes.
"Only on Friday, the girls drew me a picture and said 'Daddy, we are so proud of you for working so hard to save our home," he said, calling his daughters, his "flowers".
"Tali," he said, "everything I have, everything I did, I did for her."
Tali Hatuel was a social worker and counselled the families of victims from attacks by Palestinian militants, friends said.
"She was quiet and shy ... she was a very serious person," her neighbour Ezra Haidu said.
The militant Islamic Jihad and Popular Resistance Committees, an umbrella group, claimed responsibility for what it called the "heroic" attack.
"The blood of the holy warriors will be united to become bombs of death and fear in the hearts of the enemy," read a statement on the Web site of the Popular Resistance Committee.
Twenty-six-year-old Faisal Abu Naqira and a fellow Islamic Jihad militant were credited with the fatal attack.
In Gaza City, about 1 500 people joined an Islamic Jihad march celebrating the attack. Islamic Jihad said the attack was in response to Israel's assassination of Hamas leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz Rantisi.
"The goal of this attack was to confirm the continuation of the resistance," said Khader Habib, an Islamic Jihad leader in Gaza.
Last night, an Israeli helicopter fired three missiles at a 14-storey Palestinian building in the middle of Gaza City in revenge for the Hatuel family killings. - Reuters
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