Palestinian militant killed in missile strike

GAZA (Reuters) – An Israeli missile strike killed a
Palestinian militant and critically wounded another on Thursday
in the Gaza Strip, medical officials said.

Security sources said earlier the two Islamic Jihad
militants were dead, and ambulance crews took the men to the
morgue. But a doctor who examined them said they were still
alive and sent them to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City for surgery.

One of the two men, Wael Nassar, died shortly afterwards.
The second militant was in critical condition, doctors said.

They were hit when an Israeli aircraft fired missiles at
their car, which security sources said was loaded with rockets,
as it drove on the coastal road in the Gaza Strip. The
militants jumped out before the car exploded and fled on foot.

Moments later, a second missile was fired, critically
wounding both men as they ran from the scene. A third militant
who had also been in the car was lightly wounded.

“It was an air strike against a terror cell that was en
route to carry out an attack against Israeli civilians,” an
Israeli army spokeswoman said.

The Israeli military frequently fires missiles from
unmanned drones and helicopter gunships at Palestinian
militants operating in the Gaza Strip, particularly bands of
gunmen involved in firing rockets into Israel.

Israel has stepped up the strikes since it withdrew its
troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip last September.