Palestinians bury 18 civilians killed in Israeli artillery attack

Thursday, November 9th 2006, 5:37 am

By: News On 6

BEIT HANOUN, Gaza Strip (AP) Tens of thousands of grief-stricken, furious Gazans flocked to an artillery-scarred cluster of apartment buildings in the town of Beit Hanoun on Thursday to mourn 18 civilians killed when a barrage of Israeli shells tore through their homes.

Cries of "God is greater than Israel and America!'' rang out, punctuated by gunshots as the bodies were carried on stretchers from the 18 ambulances that brought them from hospital morgues to their homes ahead of funeral prayers.

One of the victims' relatives, firing into the air, screamed, "I will revenge, I will revenge!''

A cemetery under construction in Beit Hanoun was hastily opened to accommodate the victims, because no other cemetery in town had enough land to allow them to be buried together.

A Palestinian flag fluttered over each of the graves, freshly dug in a single row and marked by concrete blocks. Two unmanned Israeli aerial drones buzzed overhead.