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CNN Saturday Morning News
Islamic Jihad Bodyguard Dies of Wounds from Israeli Missle Strike
Aired February 07, 2004 - 09:00 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.
CATHERINE CALLOWAY, CNN ANCHOR: In other news this morning, an Islamic Jihad bodyguard has died of wounds suffered today in an Israeli missile strike in Gaza City. Authorities believe that the man was the target of the helicopter attack, which also took the life of a bystander.
And CNN's John Vause has details from Jerusalem. John?
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Catherine, Israeli officials tell us that the target of that attack this morning in Gaza was a senior member of the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad.
It appears that man is Aziz al-Shami (ph). He was driving through the streets of Gaza with three other people this morning when Palestinian witnesses say an Israeli Apache helicopter fired at least one missile at the vehicle. It hit the front end of their car.
Now, Aziz al-Shami survived that initial attack, but within the last hour or so, he died from his wounds in Gaza hospital.
Now, according to Palestinian sources, hospital sources, they say an 11-year-old boy was also killed in this helicopter strike. He was apparently on his way to school. Now, these same sources say that at least 10 other people were wounded by this Israeli air strike, many of them children, or some of them children, rather, and most of them, in fact, civilians. Some of them remain in a critical condition right now.
Israel says Aziz al-Shami was a senior militant leader of Islamic Jihad, but he was also a bodyguard and a cousin to the Gaza leader of Islamic Jihad, Abdullah al-Shami. Now, a short time ago, Abdullah al- Shami vowed revenge for the death of Aziz. Now, four months ago, the IDF did try to assassinate Aziz al-Shami with a missile attack on his house. He survived that attack. Today, he did not survive.
The Palestinian Authority, though, has condemned this, saying it is cowardly aggression designed to escalate the current situation, Catherine.
CALLAWAY: All right, John, thank you very much. John Vause from Jerusalem.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Strike>
Aired February 7, 2004 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLOWAY, CNN ANCHOR: In other news this morning, an Islamic Jihad bodyguard has died of wounds suffered today in an Israeli missile strike in Gaza City. Authorities believe that the man was the target of the helicopter attack, which also took the life of a bystander.
And CNN's John Vause has details from Jerusalem. John?
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Catherine, Israeli officials tell us that the target of that attack this morning in Gaza was a senior member of the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad.
It appears that man is Aziz al-Shami (ph). He was driving through the streets of Gaza with three other people this morning when Palestinian witnesses say an Israeli Apache helicopter fired at least one missile at the vehicle. It hit the front end of their car.
Now, Aziz al-Shami survived that initial attack, but within the last hour or so, he died from his wounds in Gaza hospital.
Now, according to Palestinian sources, hospital sources, they say an 11-year-old boy was also killed in this helicopter strike. He was apparently on his way to school. Now, these same sources say that at least 10 other people were wounded by this Israeli air strike, many of them children, or some of them children, rather, and most of them, in fact, civilians. Some of them remain in a critical condition right now.
Israel says Aziz al-Shami was a senior militant leader of Islamic Jihad, but he was also a bodyguard and a cousin to the Gaza leader of Islamic Jihad, Abdullah al-Shami. Now, a short time ago, Abdullah al- Shami vowed revenge for the death of Aziz. Now, four months ago, the IDF did try to assassinate Aziz al-Shami with a missile attack on his house. He survived that attack. Today, he did not survive.
The Palestinian Authority, though, has condemned this, saying it is cowardly aggression designed to escalate the current situation, Catherine.
CALLAWAY: All right, John, thank you very much. John Vause from Jerusalem.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Strike>
