3 Palestinian teenagers killed by Israeli troops

4/9/2005 6:42:00 PM GMT

Israeli troops fired at a group of Palestinians in a southern Gaza Strip refugee camp of Rafah on Saturday, killing three teenagers in the deadliest incident in Gaza since Israel and the Palestinians declared a cease-fire two months ago.

Ali Abu Zeid, a 22-year-old Rafah resident, said a group of boys were playing soccer in an open area when the ball was kicked toward the border fence.

"The kids ran after it, and that's when we heard gunfire," he said.

Palestinian hospital officials said the two of the dead youths were 15 years old and the third was 14.

The Israeli army claims a group of youths entered an unauthorized area near the border and ignored warning shots to stop. The shots were fired by forces patrolling the area in an armed vehicle, the army said.

Since the February 8 truce declaration, a total of 13 Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israel. But Saturday's shooting was the deadliest single incident.

The chief Palestinian peace negotiator, Saeb Erekat, said the shooting threatens peace prospects.

"Every time we have such a violation of the cease-fire it really endangers the fragile quiet," he said. "We urge the Israeli government to refrain from any acts that could endanger the cease-fire."

Hamas, the largest Palestinian resistance group, pledged to avenge the deaths of the three teens.

"The Palestinian people cannot stay silent in the face of this crime and it cannot pass without punishment," said Saeed Siyam, a Hamas leader in Gaza.

He would not comment on whether Hamas remained committed to the truce.

Mohammed al-Hindi, leader of the Islamic Jihad group, called the shooting an "ugly crime" but said the group will continue to honor the cease-fire. He added, however, that Islamic Jihad should meet later to reevaluate the cease-fire.

"The state of calm is as it was," al-Hindi told a news conference.
"The truce that was declared was from two sides, and our right to resist and our right to retaliate against a crime of the occupation is agreed upon.

"The Palestinian factions must now meet and re-evaluate the situation. For now, we are committed to the quiet."

Tensions are already high amid plans by Jewish extremists to rally Sunday at a disputed holy site in Jerusalem. Palestinian resistance groups have threatened to end the cease-fire if the rally proceeds.