AL QUDS, March 9: Three Palestinian gunmen opened fire near a hotel in the coastal town of Netanya, north of Tel Aviv, wounding at least 34 people, before being gunned down themselves, Israeli security sources said.
Israeli police sources said the militants also threw hand grenades in the attack close to the seafront.
A report on Israel television said the three gunmen took up positions in two different places along the same pedestrian walkway during the attack on the Jewish Sabbath, when many people are on the streets.
The security services were still looking for “another terrorist” on the loose in the city, a police source said.
Rescue services said at least 21 people were wounded in the attack, many of them seriously. Israeli public television said up to 25 people were wounded.
A doctor at a local hospital said they were treating 11 of the wounded, and at least three of them were in serious condition, including a baby. The others were moderately to lightly wounded, he said on Israel public television.
ARRESTS: Israeli forces have rounded up hundreds of Palestinian men at Tulkarm refugee camp in the West Bank and moved them to an army base, both sides said on Saturday.
It was the first mass round-up since Israeli forces began raids on West Bank refugee camps 10 days ago in a military offensive Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says is aimed at smashing bases used for attacks on Israelis.
The Palestinian Authority said at least 16 Palestinians, including civilians, had been killed in fighting at the camp since the Israeli raid, backed by tanks and helicopters, began on Thursday. An Israeli soldier has also been killed.—AFP/Reuters
