Israel pounds Palestinian targets in Gaza

By Ibrahim Barzak

Associated Press Writer

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israeli planes, helicopters and warships pounded Gaza on Wednesday in one of the fiercest assaults of the Palestinian uprising. Thirteen Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers were killed in violence in Gaza and the West Bank.

Israel kept up the assault early this morning as gunboats targeted a Palestinian police roadblock near the Gaza City coast, wounding 13 policemen, three critically, Palestinian security officials and doctors said. Other gunboats fired at Arafat’s seaside Gaza office, witnesses said.

Seven of the Palestinians died in fighting in Gaza on Wednesday. Five others died in separate incidents, including a Hamas activist killed in an explosion at his Gaza City home.

Late Wednesday, an Israeli helicopter fired a missile at Yasser Arafat’s headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah, where the Palestinian leader has been trapped for three months by Israeli forces. The missile exploded 50 feet from Arafat’s office as he was meeting with a European Union envoy. No one was hurt, officials said.

The Israeli military said the strike on Arafat’s compound was "part of Israel’s fight against terror."

Amid the worst spate of violence since the start of the conflict 17 months ago, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon promised Israel would strike "without letup" until Palestinian militants’ attacks on Israelis are reined in.

"This is a really tough war we are in," the Israeli leader told troops and Israeli officials at a military checkpoint south of Jerusalem.

Sharon’s foreign minister, Shimon Peres, however, said force was not the answer. "A cease-fire cannot be achieved just by using fire," he told journalists in Jerusalem.

A spokesman for another Cabinet minister, Avigdor Lieberman, confirmed a sardonic closed-door exchange during which Peres told Lieberman that excessively harsh measures against the Palestinians could lead to war-crimes accusations.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell also criticized the heavy retaliation, and said both sides’ policies were fueling violence that made peace efforts impossible. "Mr. Sharon has to take a hard look at his policies and see if they can work," Powell said in Washington. "I don’t think declaring war on Palestinians will work."

Copyright ©2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

New Greater Everett Chamber of Commerce CEO CEO Wendy Poischbeg speaks at a kick off event on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Everett Rising’: Wednesday’s chamber luncheon to showcase a new era of growth.

The Greater Everett Chamber of Commerce is beginning its efforts… Continue reading

The Edmonds School District building on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds School District faces estimated $8.5 million deficit

The shortfall is lower than previous years, but the effects are “cumulative,” Superintendent Rebecca Miner said.

Hundreds rally against Trump on Presidents Day in Everett

People lined Broadway with signs and flags, similar to other protests across the country

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.