Palestinian Teenager Shot Dead in Gaza

27/04/2004| IslamWeb

Israeli officials said yesterday they believe the secret leader of Hamas in Gaza is Mahmoud Zahar, as troops killed a 14-year-old Palestinian boy and seriously wounded a 15-year-old girl near Jewish settlements in the coastal strip. Three Israeli newspapers identified Zahar, who had been Rantissi's deputy, as the group's new leader. Several days ago, Zahar told reporters Hamas would not disclose the name of the new leader, but did not deny he had inherited the title. In Gaza, a 14-year-old boy was shot in the back by Israeli army fire and died, Palestinian medical workers said. The boy was among several youths who had climbed sand dunes to watch soldiers deployed around the Israeli settlement of Nissanit in northern Gaza. Witnesses and Palestinian security officials said the boys were about 700 metres from an Israeli watchtower when the teen was killed. The girl, described as mentally retarded, had wandered into a restricted area. Medical workers also said a 15-year-old, mentally handicapped girl was seriously wounded after approaching the Israeli settlement of Morag near the Rafah refugee camp in southern Gaza. An explosion was heard last night in the Israeli settlement of Netzarim, south of Gaza City, witnesses said, but no casualties were reported. Also yesterday, two Palestinians were killed in an incident near the Mughazi refugee camp in central Gaza. Palestinian security officials said there was an explosion followed by machine gun fire. First reports said the two were killed when a rocket they were setting up exploded prematurely. **PHOTO CAPTION*** A relative touches the body of 14-year-old old Moussa El Mekayad in the morgue, Monday, April 26, 2004 after he was killed by Israeli army fire as youths climbed some sand dunes to watch the soldiers in the Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahiya. (AP)