Israeli Snipers Hunt Children

In the incident, which happened in the Brazil neighborhood of Rafah, Israeli snipers shot the girl Reyan Ebu Zeyd twice in the head. Reyan’s uncle Khader said that she was killed after she left her house to go to the grocer after Israeli tanks and armored troops had withdrawn from the area; Reyan had not been able to go out since Tuesday because of the operation. Khader said: "As soon as Reyan got out of the house, we heard the sound of weapons. When we went outside, we found Reyan lying on the ground, shot by the Israeli snipers in her neck and head."

Journalists, who were touring the aftermath of the Israel operation in the region, witnessed the death of the Palestinian girl. President of the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNWRA) for Palestinians, Peter Hansen, was among the group of journalists. Hansen said: "We heard the sounds of weapons several times. The hospital confirmed that the girl had been killed."

Another Palestinian, aged 17, lost his life yesterday as he succumbed to injuries he received during Israel’s operation. The death toll since the beginning of the September 2000 intifada now stands at 4080, 3091 of those being Palestinians.

Elsewhere, a Palestinian suicide attack at a West Bank checkpoint injured three Palestinians and two Israelis.