At least four leading Hamas terrorists were killed in an 18-hour battle with Israeli troops in Hebron that ended Wednesday.
The forces of the Islamic fundamentalist movement had entrenched themselves in several buildings in Hebron. The siege ended when the Israeli military blew up their hideouts.
A pregnant Palestinian woman who was the mother of four was killed during the fighting. According to Israeli sources, she fell victim to a Hamas bullet. Palestinian sources countered that she was shot by the Israel Defense Force.
A second woman was injured during the fighting and taken to Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. Five IDF soldiers were lightly wounded in the battle.
Explaining why the fighting had lasted so long, the army chief of staff, Lt. Gen.Ehud Barak, said the IDF had gone to extreme lengths to prevent civilian casualties.
Hebron has been under a 24-hour curfew for almost every day since Feb.25,when the mosque massacre took place.
The United States expressed concern Wednesday about the fighting in Hebron.
“The incident in Hebron is clearly one of concern to us,” U.S. State Department spokesman Mike MoCurry said at a news briefing. “We are attempting to get more detail based on some of the initial reports that we’ve seen.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
