At approximately 22:50 hours on Thursday night, a powerful explosion rocked
the Karni Crossing in northern Gaza. It was reported to be a simultaneous
double suicide bombing attack at the commercial crossing. Once again, it appears
terrorists took advantage of good will gestures by Israel, permitting late night
transport of goods across the crossing point.

Conflicting reports indicate 3-5 persons have been killed and between 12-15
injured. Rescue efforts were severely hampered because the responding personnel
were attacked with automatic weapons fire and mortar shells.

Armor-plated MDA ambulances and army medical vehicles arrived quickly on the
scene. Several injured were transported to the trauma unit of Soroka Medical
Center in Be’er Sheva, with at least one flown by helicopter, in serious
condition.

Al-Aqsa Brigades, Hamas and the Salah a-Din Brigade have all claimed joint
responsibility. Ynet reports that northern Gaza al-Aqsa commander Abu Masab
explained ‘his soldiers’ planned to abduct IDF soldiers from the location, but
were ‘compelled to detonate the bombs’ instead. IDF sources report the bombs
were huge, apparently 150 kilograms (330 lbs.).

This entry was posted on Friday, January 14th, 2005 and is filed under hotnews.