(AKI) - A militant belonging to the armed wing of the Islamist Hamas movement, the al-Qassam Brigades was killed on Thursday after a tank fired a missile towards him. Mohammed Abed Al Shakour Al Arer was killed as he went on 'a mission' east of Gaza City, said the official website of the Brigades. The 19 year-old youth came from the al-Shojaeya neighbourhood."Al-Qassam Brigades mourn the death of the Mujahedeen, reaffirms the commitment and determination to continue the resistance against the belligerent occupation forces," said a statement on the website.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak told Israeli forces to keep Gaza's border crossings shut on Thursday, ignoring pleas by the United Nations to allow humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory.