Israelis Kill 3 Guerrillas; 6 Arabs Hurt in Clashes

An Israeli gunboat on patrol off southern Lebanon sank a rubber dinghy, killing three Palestinian guerrillas, the army said.

The guerrilla squad was en route to attack Israeli targets and belonged to the PLO’s Fatah faction, a military source said. It was the third reported infiltration attempt by sea this year.

Also Saturday, at least six Palestinians were wounded by Israeli army gunfire and a 13-year-old Arab girl died of wounds suffered in an earlier clash, the army and hospital officials said.

Nahil Tokheh, 13, died a week after being shot in the head during a clash in the Amari refugee camp, the army confirmed.

Her death brought to at least 250 the number of Palestinians killed since the uprising against the Israeli occupation began in December. Three Israeli Jews and one Israeli Arab also have been killed.

Army officials confirmed that six Palestinians were wounded by army gunfire in scattered clashes. Arab hospital officials said the toll of injured was 15, including eight in the Gaza Strip and seven in the West Bank.

Meanwhile, dozens of Israeli leftists visited towns and refugee camps in the occupied territories to express support for the families of 25 Palestinian activists who have been ordered deported by Israel.

“Of all the crimes committed against Palestinians, deportation is the worst,” said Elnathan Weissert, one of 10 Israelis who toured the Dahaisha refugee camp south of Jerusalem.

In the camp, they met with Mona Faraj, 22, and her 3-month-old son. Her husband, Jamal, 24, is fighting an Aug. 17 deportation order. The army has accused him of being an activist in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

“We hope that when your son is grown, he will live in an independent Palestinian state next to Israel,” activist Gideon Spiro said.

As the Israelis wandered the camp’s dusty alleys, they were greeted by swarms of children. “Tell them there are Jews who support the uprising against the occupation,” Spiro told a translator.