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11 killed in Israeli operation in Gaza City
From Kelly Wallace and Talal Aburahma
GAZA CITY, Gaza (CNN) -- In Israel's latest action against the Islamic militant group Hamas, troops entered Gaza City overnight, killing 11 Palestinians in what military sources called a targeted mission against the "terror infrastructure" responsible for killing four Israeli soldiers in Gaza last weekend. Palestinian hospital sources said 20 people were wounded in the operation. Hamas sources said one of the 11 dead was a suicide bomber who blew himself up near an Israeli tank. More than 30 Israeli tanks and at least two Apache helicopters moved into an area east of the territory late Tuesday, staying about five hours before withdrawing, according to the Israel Defense Forces. "During the activity, eight explosive devices were activated towards the [Israeli] forces -- anti-tank missiles were shot, grenades were thrown and fire was opened towards the forces from a number of civilian buildings," the IDF said. CNN producer Talal Aburahma, who videotaped the operation, said Israeli tanks fired some shells, while other sources said helicopters fired some rockets and possibly some missiles in the incursion. Islamic Jihad members and Hamas fighters reportedly exchanged fire during a fierce gun battle with Israeli soldiers. A Hamas statement claimed that the group had blown up an Israeli tank with an explosive device. There was no immediate Israeli comment on the claim. Palestinian sources said three of the dead were members of the Palestinian security forces, four were Islamic militants and four were civilians, including a doctor who went to the aid of those injured during the operation. Hundreds of Palestinian mourners who gathered to bury the 11 dead called for revenge against Israel, according to CNN's Kelly Wallace in Gaza. Wallace said members of Palestinian radical groups were well-represented in the funeral processions. Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz on Sunday had vowed to damage the Hamas infrastructure in Gaza, following an admission by its military wing, Izzedine al Qassam, that it was responsible for an explosive device that destroyed a tank on routine patrol near the Israeli settlement of Dugit in Gaza, killing the four soldiers. Hamas is a Palestinian fundamentalist Islamic organization. Izzedine al Qassam has carried out terror attacks against Israeli civilians as well as Israeli military targets. In its official account of the operation, the Israel Defense Forces said, "IDF forces, including infantry, armor and engineering, with the assistance of army helicopters ... demolished four weapons-producing workshops containing 32 lathes, which are used to produce mortars and Qassam missiles." Palestinian security sources said Israeli forces had blown up at least three houses and three workshops. The IDF said none of its members died in the incursion into the neighborhoods Israel says are known for Hamas and Islamic Jihad activity. Palestinian Islamic Jihad has also taken responsibility for terror attacks against Israelis. Operation comes during Mideast peace meetings
The incursion came as Israeli and Palestinian representatives attended a meeting of the so-called Quartet for Middle East peace in London. The latest tension between the two sides could complicate matters as the United States, European Union, Russia and the United Nations try to create a road map to peace in the region. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat on Wednesday condemned the Gaza City incursion, which took place in the neighborhoods of El Shajaiyeh and El Tofah, saying Israel was trying to "undermine" Middle East peace efforts. "At a time when we are meeting with the international community in order to try to revive hope, to rebuild and reconstruct, the Israeli government seems to undermine these efforts and continues on the path of escalation," Erakat said from London. "We urge the international community to provide Palestinians with ... protection." In the West Bank, two other Palestinians were killed Wednesday during fighting in Nablus, the Palestine Red Crescent said. Six others were wounded in the fighting, which came during a military operation also aimed at fighting terrorism. The Nablus fighting took place in the city's casbah. Israel Radio quoted Palestinian witnesses as saying the IDF took control of several buildings in the casbah and two schools near it. The IDF said it has been making arrests in the anti-terror operation. On Tuesday, Israel's military -- in the midst of its stepped-up operations throughout the Palestinian territories -- arrested more than 20 terror suspects, destroyed an explosives lab and killed a senior Hamas activist, the IDF said. CNN correspondents Jerrold Kessel and Kelly Wallace and producer Talal Aburahma contributed to this report.
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