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Eight dead in Israeli-Palestinian clashesHamas co-founder arrested in operation
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli troops Monday rolled into Gaza's Al-Bureij refugee camp, where they destroyed homes, engaged in clashes that killed at least eight Palestinians -- including a pregnant woman and a teen -- and seized a Hamas co-founder in Gaza, sources said. The Palestinian leadership immediately condemned what it called the Israeli "offensive." According to the IDF, "Israeli infantry, tank and engineering forces backed by fighter helicopters" entered the camp to arrest Hamas activists involved in "terror activities." The operation included a search of the home of Muhammad Taha, one of the co-founders of Hamas and a senior figure in the group's political and military wings in Gaza. Taha and his son Amin were lightly wounded in a shootout with Israeli troops, IDF said. They were arrested and transferred by Israeli security to a hospital inside Israel. Palestinian sources said the Israeli operation included about 25 tanks and two bulldozers. There was fierce fighting in the camp for hours after the incursion began, Palestinian sources said. The IDF said seven explosive devices -- one containing 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of explosives -- were detonated around Israeli forces, as well as numerous hand grenades and a rocket-propelled grenade. Two Israeli soldiers were lightly wounded in the barrage, IDF said. The dead included Nuha Sueidan, who was nine months' pregnant, and a 13-year-old boy, Palestinian medical sources in Gaza said. Many of the wounded were in serious to critical condition. "This is a clear indication that the Israeli government is escalating its offensive while the world's attention in on Iraq," said Saeb Erakat, the chief Palestinian negotiator. "This is an Israeli preparation for full re-occupation of Gaza. We urge President Bush to condemn these attacks. There can no longer be silence on these crimes." Israeli officials have said its operations are aimed at the "terrorist infrastructure" in Gaza, in the wake of suicide bombings that have killed dozens of Israelis. Report: Arrested man assistant to wanted bombmakerAccording to IDF, the search of the Taha house turned up an M16 rifle and an explosives belt. "The Taha family was involved in hostile terror activity and in the planning and instigation of terror attacks. Two of the family members threw grenades toward the IDF forces, resulting in the light wounding of two soldiers. "One of the soldiers was medically treated at the scene and the other was taken to hospital for medical treatment. The IDF forces fired toward the armed Palestinians, Muhammad Taha and his son Amin, and wounded them. The two terrorists were taken by the Israeli security forces for medical treatment in an Israeli hospital," the IDF said in a statement. Israeli forces also arrested four other Hamas activists, including two additional members of the Taha family, the IDF said. The Israeli daily newspaper Ha'aretz reported that Taha's five sons -- all senior Hamas activists -- were arrested. The army said that Amin "is the assistant of the top Hamas bombmaker and No. 1 on Israel's wanted list, Mohammed Deif," according to the paper. The IDF said its troops demolished two houses in the refugee camp. Palestinian sources said three homes, belonging members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, were destroyed by the Israeli forces.
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