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Photos:
Salem Mohammed Soliman Sabbah, 17, and ‘Abdullah Ayman Salim Irmeilat, 15. Published by IMEMC News

Israeli soldiers standing next to the Gaza border fence near Kibbutz Nirim, February 17, 2018. Credit: AMIR COHEN/ REUTERS. Published by Haaretz

A wounded Palestinian man being treated at Rafah hospital, in the southern Gaza Strip, February 17, 2018. Credit: SAID KHATIB/AFP. Published by Haaretz

Scene. Published by Maan News
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by IMEMC News

Two Palestinian youth, both aged 17, were killed by Israeli airstrikes in the city of Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, the two Palestinians, identified as Salem Mohammed Soliman Sabbah, 17, and ‘Abdullah Ayman Salim Irmeilat, 15,.

Both of the young teens received life-saving treatment, but neither of them survived, the ministry said in a statement.

The two civilians, local sources said, were part of a group of six teens affected by an Israeli airstrike in an empty area in the city of Rafah.

In the statement, the ministry said that the other four were lightly wounded.

|PCHR: “Without Posing Any Threat to Soldiers’ Life, Israeli Forces Kill Two Palestinian Children and Wound 2 Others in Southern Gaza Strip”|

On Saturday, an explosive device detonated in an Israeli military jeep after crossing the Gaza borders in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, where four Israeli soldiers were wounded, including two who sustained serious injuries.

Several Israeli officials, including PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman vowed to take revenge for them.

The Israeli army launched about 20 airstrikes in different areas, including police and border guard stations across the Gaza Strip, claiming it attacked what was dubbed as “terror posts.”

It is worth mentioning that the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said it used, for the first time, anti-aircraft missiles against the Israeli war jets, forcing them to withdraw.

In a statement al-Qassam said “we used surface-to-air missiles in countering airstrikes by the enemy – we will continue to protect our people.”

Al-Qassam held Israel responsible for the escalation in the region, and stated “that the Israeli strikes, bombardment, and constant violations against our people reflect the enemy’s hostile intention.”

“The enemy must understand that it is the violator and aggressor, and we will always perform our duty and protect our people,” al-Qassam said in its statement, “Israeli leaders are trying to burry their corruption and their failures by escalation the aggression against our people.”.
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Biggest Flare-up on Israel-Gaza Border Since 2014 War – a Timeline
Four Israeli soldiers wounded and two Palestinians killed – how Saturday's events unfolded

Haaretz Feb 18, 2018 1:57 PM

Saturday's flare-up on the Gaza border was the worst between Israel and Palestinian Islamic militants since the 50-day war in the summer of 2014.

Four Israeli soldiers were wounded when a device exploded on the border, two Palestinians killed after approaching the border and the Israeli military attacking 18 Hamas targets in response to the bombing.

Here's how events unfolded

Friday – More than 20 Palestinians wounded, according to Palestinian reports, during weekly demonstration on Gaza border. Israel suspects an explosive device was placed on border fence at this time, attached to a Palestinian flag.

Saturday afternoon – Four Israeli sappers are wounded when they go to remove the flag and an explosive device is detonated. They are hospitalized at Soroka Medical Center, Be'er Sheva, suffering burns and shrapnel injuries. Two are in serious condition.

Saturday afternoon – Four Israeli sappers are wounded when they go to remove the flag and an explosive device is detonated. They are hospitalized at Soroka Medical Center, Be'er Sheva, suffering burns and shrapnel injuries. Two are in serious condition.

Sunday morning – Two Palestinians found dead near Gaza border fence after being hit by Israeli shells while approaching the border the previous evening. Two more Palestinians wounded and hospitalized.

Sunday morning – Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman tells Ynet that the Popular Resistance Committee in Gaza was behind the border explosion. "Until we eliminate them, the score remains unsettled. It will take two days, a week or two weeks."

Sunday morning – Four Israeli soldiers being treated in Soroka Medical Center, Be'er Sheva, suffering burns and shrapnel injuries. Two are in serious condition.
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GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- The bodies of two Palestinian teenagers killed by Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip were found early on Sunday morning.

Spokesperson of the Gaza Ministry of Health, Ashraf al-Qidra, said that the bodies of the two youths arrived on Sunday to the Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah City in southern Gaza.

Al-Qidra identified them as Bassam Muhammad Sabbah, 17, and Abdullah Ayman Abu Sheikha, 17, both from the al-Salam neighborhood in the city. The two were killed on Saturday night in airstrikes that, according to locals, lasted for hours.

Another two injured Palestinians also arrived to the same hospital on Saturday night.

The past few days have seen increased tensions along the Israeli-Gaza border, with Israel conducting several airstrikes throughout the besieged territory.

Israel has said that the deadly airstrikes were “retaliatory,” and were in response to rocket fire coming from the enclave and the injury of four Israeli soldiers on Saturday after a device that detonated along the border.