Deadly Israel missile explodes days later

2012-11-30 09:01

Smoke rises during an explosion from an Israeli forces strike in Gaza City. (File, AP)

Gaza City - One Palestinian died and another was wounded early on Friday when an Israeli missile fired days earlier exploded in the north of the Gaza Strip, an emergency services spokesperson said.

Adham Abu Selmiya said the missile was fired by the Israelis at a training ground of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, during an eight-day flare-up that began on 14 November.

It was not clear why the missile exploded so many days after it was fired.

The latest victim of the confrontation between Israel and Gaza militants brought the toll to 175 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and six Israelis, two of them soldiers.

The Palestinian toll, which initially stood at 166, rose in the days that followed a 21 November ceasefire deal, as people succumbed to injuries sustained during the fighting.

According to figures supplied by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), at least 105 civilians were killed. Emergency services said that 14 women and at least 37 children were among the dead.

Highest toll since 2009

At least 1 300 people were wounded, the Gaza health ministry said.

Senior Hamas official Mahmud al-Zahar said "around 30" militants from various groups had been killed. Islamic Jihad said it alone had lost 10 men.

Militants from Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades said they fired 1 573 rockets at Israel during the conflict.

In Israel, rocket fire from Gaza killed six people - four civilians and two soldiers - and another 240 were injured, the military said.

The toll was the highest from any flare-up between the two sides since Israel's devastating 22-day Operation Cast Lead over New Year 2009.

That cost the lives of 1 400 Palestinians - half of them civilians - and 13 Israelis, 10 of them soldiers.

- AFP