JERUSALEM Ñ Israel's military plans to launch additional operations
against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli officials said the military operation in Khan Yunis on Monday
was regarded as successful and would be repeated at a later date. Sixteen
Palestinians, including several deemed as civilians, were killed during an
early-morning battle in the downtown district during an Israeli
search-and-destroy operation for Hamas targets.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on Tuesday the Khan Yunis operation was
successful and damaged Hamas's capability. He said the military would
conduct similar operations against Islamic insurgents in the future. He did
not elaborate.
"It was a successful operation," Sharon said. "This operation was a
complex and difficult. It was successful. There were other operations and
there will be other such operations."
Sharon will head to the United States next week to meet President George
Bush in Washington to discuss the prospect of a war against Iraq. Officials
said the prime minister plans to reduce his stay amid an alert of a wave of
new
attacks against Israel.
Sharon is said to favor an Israeli invasion of the entire Gaza Strip.
The Israeli daily Haaretz said such a plan has been discussed with the
United States.
Two Israeli soldiers were injured overnight Wednesday in a series of
clashes with Hamas and other Palestinian insurgents in the Gaza Strip.
Earlier, Hamas gunners fired Kassam-class short-range missiles at
communities in Israel. Nobody was injured.
In the West Bank, Hamas gunmen injured four Israelis in an ambush south
of Hebron on Tuesday.
In Gaza City, Hamas insurgents continued to attack the Palestinian
Authority. On Tuesday, Hamas agents hurled grenades at a police station in
Gaza City during a funeral procession for two of the five members killed by
PA forces the previous day.
Other Hamas supporters destroyed police vehicles. Hours later,
representatives of Hamas and the ruling Fatah movement met in an effort to
end the violence. No progress was reported.
