Posted on 07/04/2002 2:10:16 PM PDT by HAL9000
GAZA CITY, July 4 (AFP) - The local chief of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed offshoot of Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, and his nephew were killed Thursday when a blast ripped apart their car as they drove through Gaza City, said Fatah members, who blamed the deaths on Israel.
Brigades chief Jihad Al-Omarayn, a colonel in the Palestinian security forces, and Wael Al-Nimra, his nephew and bodyguard, were killed by the explosion, said Zaher al-Omarayn, also a nephew of Jihad.
A Fatah official, speaking on condition of anonymity, called the deaths "an assassination plotted by Israel."
An AFP correspondent, who saw the blast, described it as a very strong explosion, saying the car was swallowed by flames.
The blast ripped off the head, arms and legs of one of the victims, the correspondent said. It appeared to have been detonated on the passenger's side of the car, he added.
Since the intifada erupted 21 months ago, Israel has carried out at least 60 targeted killings of Palestinian militants, whether by helicopter attacks, bombings or shootings.
The Brigades, created during the 21-month intifada, have orchestrated wave after wave of deadly suicide bombings and shooting sprees inside Israel and the occupied territories.
Israel has accused Arafat of directly funding the group's attacks.
These cowards don't like to get hurt, leaving their dirty work for the brainwashed Palistinian youth to die for. The thought of now not knowing when their lives (militant leadership) will be suddenly snuffed out (violently) will have a effect on how well they will be able to carry out their future plans.
Nice shooting Shin Beth. Keep up the good work.
It's only a flesh wound.
On the other hand, the bombing might be due to in-fighting among terrorist groups who want to assume leadership when Arafat is gone..
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