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CNN Live Sunday
Crisis in the Middle East
Aired August 24, 2003 - 18:00 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.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, Israel makes good on its threat to hunt down and target militant groups. Four Hamas members were killed in airstrikes in Gaza City. Those strikes took place near the base where Yasser Arafat's personal security force. CNN's Michael Holmes is in Gaza and joins us now by telephone with the very latest. So, Michael, this attack was not really a surprise.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it depends on who you talk to. The Palestinian Authority would say that they were hoping there would be no further attacks so they could continue what they say was a start of their crackdown, if you like.
Meanwhile, there is some new news to report. Five Kassam rockets have been fired at a settlement about 20 kilometers south of Gaza City, a Jewish settlement called Fadarom (ph), Israeli soldiers returning fire. No reports of injuries on either side. An immediate response perhaps to another dramatic and deadly attack by those Israeli helicopters as they've been here in Gaza.
As you said, four members of the Hamas military wing, Izzadin al- Kassam, were killed when at least two, perhaps there were three missiles fired at them as they sat in that vacant lot across from the beach. That lot close to both Yasser Arafat and Mohammed Dahlan's offices.
A fifth Hamas member critically injured, as were several bystanders, including a young child.
Now, the dead men have all been named, and I can tell you that one of them, Ahmed Ashtawiri (ph), was on Israel's most wanted list. He was said to have been the military wing's liaison man between Gaza and the West Bank.
I just got off the phone with Israeli military sources who said, quote, "he was in the top leadership, the head of operations. He was responsible for planning and directing and carrying out attacks in Gaza and the West Bank and was in the middle of planning an attack when he was fired upon by those missiles."
His assistant was also killed, as were two other members of Hamas.
Now, this comes at the end of a day when Palestinian security forces carry out two actions they said were part of their plan to eventually bring militants to heel. Tunnels dug under the border between Egypt and Gaza were found and filled in. Eight people arrested there. Earlier this evening, Palestinian roadblocks were set up to try to stop just the sort of Kassam rocket attack that occurred a short time ago.
Both sides, of course, in this conflict, blaming each other for failing to live up to their commitments under the road map to peace. The Palestinian Authority says such killings as we've witnessed here tonight merely hardens the resolve of groups like Hamas, increases their popularity on the streets and makes it harder for Palestinian security to act effectively. Israel says Palestinians have not done enough, and they reserve the right to strike when they choose -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: OK. Michael there in Gaza, what I'm sure is going to be another long and busy evening. Thanks for joining us.
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Aired August 24, 2003 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, Israel makes good on its threat to hunt down and target militant groups. Four Hamas members were killed in airstrikes in Gaza City. Those strikes took place near the base where Yasser Arafat's personal security force. CNN's Michael Holmes is in Gaza and joins us now by telephone with the very latest. So, Michael, this attack was not really a surprise.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it depends on who you talk to. The Palestinian Authority would say that they were hoping there would be no further attacks so they could continue what they say was a start of their crackdown, if you like.
Meanwhile, there is some new news to report. Five Kassam rockets have been fired at a settlement about 20 kilometers south of Gaza City, a Jewish settlement called Fadarom (ph), Israeli soldiers returning fire. No reports of injuries on either side. An immediate response perhaps to another dramatic and deadly attack by those Israeli helicopters as they've been here in Gaza.
As you said, four members of the Hamas military wing, Izzadin al- Kassam, were killed when at least two, perhaps there were three missiles fired at them as they sat in that vacant lot across from the beach. That lot close to both Yasser Arafat and Mohammed Dahlan's offices.
A fifth Hamas member critically injured, as were several bystanders, including a young child.
Now, the dead men have all been named, and I can tell you that one of them, Ahmed Ashtawiri (ph), was on Israel's most wanted list. He was said to have been the military wing's liaison man between Gaza and the West Bank.
I just got off the phone with Israeli military sources who said, quote, "he was in the top leadership, the head of operations. He was responsible for planning and directing and carrying out attacks in Gaza and the West Bank and was in the middle of planning an attack when he was fired upon by those missiles."
His assistant was also killed, as were two other members of Hamas.
Now, this comes at the end of a day when Palestinian security forces carry out two actions they said were part of their plan to eventually bring militants to heel. Tunnels dug under the border between Egypt and Gaza were found and filled in. Eight people arrested there. Earlier this evening, Palestinian roadblocks were set up to try to stop just the sort of Kassam rocket attack that occurred a short time ago.
Both sides, of course, in this conflict, blaming each other for failing to live up to their commitments under the road map to peace. The Palestinian Authority says such killings as we've witnessed here tonight merely hardens the resolve of groups like Hamas, increases their popularity on the streets and makes it harder for Palestinian security to act effectively. Israel says Palestinians have not done enough, and they reserve the right to strike when they choose -- Andrea.
KOPPEL: OK. Michael there in Gaza, what I'm sure is going to be another long and busy evening. Thanks for joining us.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
