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CNN Live Today

Four Killed in Gaza Strip Raid

Aired December 06, 2002 - 11:18   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Israeli forces rolled into a Gaza refugee camp today and the fire fight that followed that killed at least ten Palestinians, that figure coming from Palestinian police sources.
Our Kelly Wallace checks in now live from Gaza -- hello, Kelly, what have you learned?

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, hello, Leon. We have some new information. We are told that two of the ten people killed worked for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency. One, we are told, was a 31-year-old man who was a school attendant, the other a 32-year- old woman, an elementary school teacher, both Palestinians, both working with that U.N. agency, though, according to the agency.

Palestinian sources say in all four civilians were killed, ten people injured, including a 12-year-old girl. The Israelis say their goal here going after militants they say are hiding behind the civilian population in the Gaza Strip to carry out what the Israelis terror activities.

We saw Israeli tanks backed by Israeli helicopters rolling into that refugee camp in the early hours of the morning. A spokesperson with the Israeli Defense Force is saying that Israeli soldiers came under heavy gunfire from Palestinian gunmen.

The goal of the operation, Israelis say, demolishing the home of a suspected militant believed to be responsible for organizing attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers in the Gaza Strip.

That militant, we are told, was not inside his home at the time of this raid.

Now, on the streets today in Gaza City, anger. Hundreds and hundreds of Palestinians turned out for funerals for nine of the ten Palestinians killed. Outrage, especially Palestinians say that this raid came at the start of the eid, that is the feast marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has condemned the raid, saying every day there is -- quote -- "a new massacre, every day there are new assassinations."

Palestinians are blaming the Israeli military crackdown and the Israeli occupation for fueling the violence. Now, this latest incursion comes just as Israel claims that al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network has an operation, has activities, has a presence here in the Gaza Strip. That is a charge, though, that Palestinians flatly reject -- Leon. HARRIS: Kelly Wallace reporting live from Gaza. Thank you, Kelly, take care. Be careful.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired December 6, 2002 - 11:18   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Israeli forces rolled into a Gaza refugee camp today and the fire fight that followed that killed at least ten Palestinians, that figure coming from Palestinian police sources.
Our Kelly Wallace checks in now live from Gaza -- hello, Kelly, what have you learned?

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, hello, Leon. We have some new information. We are told that two of the ten people killed worked for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency. One, we are told, was a 31-year-old man who was a school attendant, the other a 32-year- old woman, an elementary school teacher, both Palestinians, both working with that U.N. agency, though, according to the agency.

Palestinian sources say in all four civilians were killed, ten people injured, including a 12-year-old girl. The Israelis say their goal here going after militants they say are hiding behind the civilian population in the Gaza Strip to carry out what the Israelis terror activities.

We saw Israeli tanks backed by Israeli helicopters rolling into that refugee camp in the early hours of the morning. A spokesperson with the Israeli Defense Force is saying that Israeli soldiers came under heavy gunfire from Palestinian gunmen.

The goal of the operation, Israelis say, demolishing the home of a suspected militant believed to be responsible for organizing attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers in the Gaza Strip.

That militant, we are told, was not inside his home at the time of this raid.

Now, on the streets today in Gaza City, anger. Hundreds and hundreds of Palestinians turned out for funerals for nine of the ten Palestinians killed. Outrage, especially Palestinians say that this raid came at the start of the eid, that is the feast marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has condemned the raid, saying every day there is -- quote -- "a new massacre, every day there are new assassinations."

Palestinians are blaming the Israeli military crackdown and the Israeli occupation for fueling the violence. Now, this latest incursion comes just as Israel claims that al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network has an operation, has activities, has a presence here in the Gaza Strip. That is a charge, though, that Palestinians flatly reject -- Leon. HARRIS: Kelly Wallace reporting live from Gaza. Thank you, Kelly, take care. Be careful.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com