Gaza City July 23. 2002 Gaza Strip
The militant Palestinian group Hamas has chosen a new leader for its military
wing to succeed Salah Shehada - who was killed along with 14 others in an
Israeli air strike at a residential building in Gaza City.
Sheikh Salah Shahada was among at least 15 people killed, including eight
children, in the missile attack.
.He died when an Israeli F-16 jet dropped a one-tonne guided bomb on the apartment
block where Shehada was staying.
Two members of his family, his bodyguard, and eleven others - mainly in neighbouring
buildings - were also killed.
About 140 people were injured in the attack, and local officials said that
more people could be buried under the rubble.
Local residents accusing Israel of deliberately targeting innocent civilians.
The methods of attack against selected individuals have varied from letter
bombs and car bombs to ground attacks in Israeli troops and missile attacks
from combat aircraft and helicopters.
Missile or tank attacks have also been used but have frequently involved the
inflicting of substantial civilian casualties.
That operation led to condemnation of Israel by Arab and Western nations Israel's
claims that it was unaware that bombing an apartment building might kill more
people than the intended target have been rejected by the international community.
Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon described Monday's air strike on Gaza
City as a "great success".
But, in a statement issued through his spokesman, UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan condemned Israel for not taking measures to avoid civilian causalities.
The restoration of the apartment block is carried out by the UNO.
