Hamas attacks Israel with 25 mortar shells

Special report: Internal situation in Palestine

Members of the Hamas Executive Force attend the funeral of six Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip Aug. 21, 2007. Al-Qassam Brigades, armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said on Tuesday that its militants fired 25 mortar shells at Israeli posts on Gaza-Israeli borders. The mortar attacks came as a revenge for killing six of its militants. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

    In leaflets, the group said that five mortar shells were fired at Kerem Shalom Crossing southeast Gaza Strip while 12 othermortar shells landed at the military post of Kiss, east of central Gaza Strip.

    The group said in another leaflet that six more mortar shells were fired at another Israeli army post, east of Kahn Younis town in southern Gaza Strip.

    Israeli Radio also reported that several homemade mortar shells were fired from several parts of central and southern Gaza Strip at Israeli army posts on the borders between Israel and the Gaza enclave. No injuries or damages were reported.

    Hamas said that the mortar attacks came as a revenge for killing six of its militants in an air strike on Monday east of al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza Strip.

    Israel said the six militants were targeted when they were on their way to launch propelled project against Israel. The Gaza Strip now is totally controlled by Hamas movement after the Islamic movement ousted its secular rival Fatah movement led by President Mahmoud Abbas in mid-June following days of factional infighting.