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CNN Live At Daybreak

Israeli Airstrike Kills Hamas Militant

Aired July 23, 2002 - 06:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is praising an airstrike that killed a leading Hamas militant.

CNN's Mike Hanna is in Gaza City, the site of the attack.

Mike -- what can you tell us?

MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, just after midnight last night, a massive explosion in Gaza City. An F-16 -- an Israeli F-16 firing a missile into an apartment building in the middle of the densely-populated heart of downtown Gaza City. More than 10 people are killed, among them, a leading Hamas militant, who Israel says was its target, Salah Shehade, who along -- was killed along with his wife and at least three of his children.

Also killed in the attack were a number others, among them a 4- month-old baby, a family of a mother, plus her two sons, one aged 4, the other aged 2.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says he regrets the loss of Israeli (sic) life, but he says the operation was a success. Shehade has been accused by Israel of having a hand in numerous terror attacks against Israeli civilians.

But the view from the Palestinian streets, one of deep anger. The argument from the Palestinian Authority that regardless of Israel's motives in singling out this individual, to attack a crowded, densely-populated urban area, to incur so many civilian deaths is absolutely unacceptable.

Well over 100 people were wounded in the attack, at least 16 of these, we are told by doctors at Gaza Shifa (ph) Hospital, are in a critical condition -- Anderson.

COOPER: Mike, any fear of retaliation after this attack?

HANNA: Very much so. There have already been several warnings from Palestinian militant groups, in particular Hamas, saying that this attack will not go without response. Hamas leaders saying that they will seek revenge attacks against Israeli civilians.

Now, this just comes a matter of a day after Hamas was saying that it was considering ending attacks against Israeli civilian targets if Israel withdrew from areas which should have been under Palestinian control. There had been tentative moves between the two sides to resuming some form of contact, some form of talk about reducing the level of the violence, but in the wake of this attack, in the wake of the massive Palestinian losses and wounded and in dead, well, certainly any hopes that there may be a resumption of an approximation of normality have been blown away -- Anderson.

COOPER: All right, Mike Hanna, thanks very much -- reporting from Gaza City.

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