The Israeli army said today that according to initial reports of a strike on a hospital in the Gaza Strip that killed five journalists, the military had identified a camera "positioned by Hamas" nearby to monitor soldiers, BTA reported.
Israeli forces struck Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza Strip yesterday, killing at least 20 people, including five journalists working for Reuters, the Associated Press, Al Jazeera and Al Jazeera. and other media.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said later today that Israel deeply regrets the "tragic accident".
Israeli forces today carried out an unusual daytime operation in the center of the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, where the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority is located, the Associated Press reported.
According to local doctors, dozens of Palestinians were injured after people throwing stones dispersed in the ensuing shooting and use of tear gas.
Israel said the target of the operation were money exchange offices linked to "Hamas". But the operation is likely to further undermine the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, which is trying to capitalize on the recent decision by some major Western countries to recognize Palestinian statehood.
The Palestinian Authority is led by rivals of "Hamas". It cooperates with Israel on security issues and exercises limited autonomy in parts of the West Bank. Many Palestinians view it as corrupt and autocratic, the AP notes.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said 58 people were wounded in the operation, eight of them by gunfire and 14 by rubber bullets. Several dozen people threw stones at a column of Israeli armored vehicles as they entered downtown Ramallah. The military said it had detained five people who were "suspected of terrorist activity.".