|
  |
|
 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eleven dead in Gaza incursion
From Kelly Wallace and Talal Aburahma
GAZA CITY (CNN) -- Eleven people were killed Tuesday in what Israeli military sources called a "targeted incursion" against the "terror infrastructure" in Gaza. More than 30 Israeli tanks and at least two Apache helicopters moved into an area east of the territory in Israel's latest action in its campaign targeting members of the militant group Hamas. Palestinian hospital sources said at least 20 people were wounded. Hamas sources said one of the 11 dead was a suicide bomber who blew himself up near an Israeli tank. In its official account of the operation, the Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday said: "IDF forces, including infantry, armor and engineering, with the assistance of army helicopters ... blew up four workshops ... used to make Qassam rockets and mortar shells." The IDF made no mention of casualties. The operation lasted about five hours, after which Israeli soldiers, tanks and helicopters pulled out of the Gaza neighborhoods they had entered. The tanks fired shells, and Palestinian sources said the helicopters fired rockets and possibly missiles in an area east of Gaza. Sources said a fierce gunbattle also took place, with Islamic Jihad and Hamas members exchanging fire with Israeli soldiers. Hamas, in a statement, also claimed to have blown up an Israeli tank with an explosive device. Palestinian security sources said Israeli forces had blown up at least three houses and three workshops. In previous Israeli military incursions, the tactic has been used to destroy the homes of suicide bombers and workshops where Israel says weapons are being made. The incursion took place in the neighborhoods of El Shaeaa and El Tofah, which are known for Hamas and Islamic Jihad activity. The operation followed a bloody few days in the region. Eight members of Hamas' military wing have been killed since last weekend. Four Israeli soldiers were killed Saturday when their tank ran over an explosive device. Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz vowed Sunday to damage the Hamas infrastructure in Gaza after Izzedine al Qassam, the military wing of Hamas, acknowledged responsibility for destroying the tank near the Israeli settlement of Dugit in Gaza. Hamas is a Palestinian Islamic fundamentalist group that the U.S. State Department has labeled a terrorist organization. Izzedine al Qassam has admitted responsibility for terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians as well as attacks against the Israeli military. The incursion comes as Israeli and Palestinian representatives attended a meeting of the Mideast Quartet -- the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations -- in London, England. Arrests, operations precede Gaza incursion
Before Tuesday night's incursion, Israel's military arrested terror suspects, destroyed an explosives lab and killed a senior Hamas activist, the Israel Defense Forces said. The events occurred in the midst of stepped-up Israeli military operations throughout the Palestinian territories. According to the IDF, Israeli forces arrested nine Palestinians overnight. All were suspected of terrorist activities in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. During the arrests, troops discovered a lab with 250 kilograms (550 pounds) of explosives inside, the IDF said. In another building, an explosives belt, a mortar rocket, grenades and a rifle were found. Both buildings were demolished. IDF troops killed a senior Hamas activist in the West Bank village of Yatta, near Hebron. According to the IDF, soldiers outside his house called for his surrender. The activist was killed when he refused, IDF said. Also overnight in the West Bank, Israeli troops arrested a dozen Palestinians in the Bethlehem area. The nine men and three women are accused of planning to carry out suicide attacks.
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
