Palestinian gunmen killed 11 suspected collaborators in three West Bank towns today in the widest onslaught on Palestinians accused of aiding Israel since the revolt against occupation began 18 months ago.
Two masked Palestinian gunmen entered an intelligence building in the West Bank town of Tulkarm and killed eight men awaiting trial on charges of collaborating with Israeli security forces, Palestinian security sources and witnesses said.
Three other Palestinians also accused of helping Israeli security forces were found shot dead elsewhere in the West Bank.
Palestinians say Israel recruits Palestinian agents to facilitate its extra-judicial killings of wanted militants. Security sources said the men being held in Tulkarm died after Palestinian security officers guarding an intelligence service building left their posts, believing that Israeli tanks moving towards the town might enter it and attack them.
Their departure allowed the gunmen to enter the building and shoot the eight prisoners dead before fleeing, the sources said.
The bodies were dragged out to the road where hundreds of Palestinians gathered, most of them expressing satisfaction at the killings.
Palestinian security sources said the slain men had been charged, but not convicted, of helping Israeli security forces track and kill Palestinian militants.
AFP