Activists loyal to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat have
threatened to avenge the deaths of four Palestinians killed by
an explosion in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday night.
"This odious crime will not go unpunished," the
Fatah movement warned. It said three of its members were among
the dead.
This crime was orchestrated by Israel's terrorist
government and occupation forces
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Fatah statement
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The explosion in Rafah on the
border with Egypt also killed a 14-year-old Palestinian boy, and
wounded six others.
The exact circumstances of the blast are still unclear, but a
Palestinian minister, Nabil Amr, described the explosions as
"Israeli aggression".
Fatah accuses the Israeli army of detonating the explosive
device by remote control.
The Israeli army is maintaining a tight
blockade on Palestinian areas
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"This crime was
orchestrated by Israel's terrorist government and occupation
forces," its statement said.
According to Palestinian security officials, three bombs were
planted in a school. Two of them police defused, while the third
exploded.
Police said the devices had been planted by Palestinian
collaborators.
But other reports said a device had exploded after being
prodded by local civilians and that they - not policemen - had
been killed.
This new episode of Israeli violence and
terrorism strengthens the need for international
protection for the Palestinian people
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Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat
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The Israeli army has said it
had nothing to do with the explosions and was investigating the
reports.
Israel is continuing the total blockade of the Palestinian
territories as a security measure for the remainder of
independence day.
The Israeli army controls security at all border crossings
into Palestinian areas, including Rafah.
Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the blast
underlined the need for an international protection force in the
Palestinian territories.
Shooting
In other violence, Israeli soldiers have shot dead a
Palestinian farmer in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian officials
said.
The Palestinian economy is crippled by
Israeli blockades
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The man, Atef Wahdan, was
reported to have been working in a citrus grove near the
Israeli-Gaza border when troops on the other side of the wire
fence opened fire.
An Israeli spokesman said the army fired warning shots when
the man crossed the fence and then shot at him when he did not
stop.
