Israeli troops kill girl in gun battle on Gaza border
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Israeli troops shot dead an 11-year-old Palestinian girl yesterday during a gun battle in the Rafah refugee camp on the Gaza-Egyptian border. Nada Madi was the third young Palestinian killed in southern Gaza this week.
Her aunt, Mozeh Madi, told The Independent that Nada had done nothing to provoke the shot. The girl had just returned from school; she went to her room on the third floor and opened a window. A bullet, fired from an army post less than 100 metres away, hit her in the chest.
"We are seeing this tragedy every day, over and over again, and we can do nothing to stop it," her aunt said. Nada's father and grandmother, who had crossed into Egypt for medical treatment, were summoned home for the funeral.
The area, where the Israeli army plays a constant cat-and-mouse game with Palestinian arms smugglers, is one of almost daily clashes. The Israelis find and destroy tunnels; the Palestinians dig new ones in the sandy soil. Israel claimed that 10 grenades were thrown at its soldiers there on Wednesday alone.
Israeli military sources said yesterday's clash began when Palestinian fighters launched an anti-tank missile, grenades and automatic fire at one of their fortified points. The Israelis shot back and a battle ensued, during which the girl was hit. The army said it was investigating her death.
Earlier, Israeli soldiers demolished a rogue settler outpost in the West Bank city of Hebron. Shaul Mofaz, the Defence Minister, ordered its removal because it had been built without permission on land owned by Arabs. Police arrested seven protesters suspected of assaulting the troops and dragged away 200.
Militant settlers had erected four caravans on a lane where Palestinian gunmen killed 12 Israeli security personnel in an ambush last month. The route is used by Jewish worshippers walking between the Tomb of the Patriarchs, sacred to Jews and Arabs as the tomb of Abraham, and Kiryat Arba, a Jewish settlementabove the city.
In Tulkarem, troops demolished the home of Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian fighter accused of killing five Israelis, including a mother and two children, in a kibbutz six weeks ago. The army entered before dawn, arrested the man's father and tore down his house. Mr Sirhan is still at large.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments