TEL AVIV Ñ The Israeli-Palestinian insurgency war continues to rage
amid last-minute efforts to announce a ceasefire.
Palestinian insurgents continued to launch strikes against civilian
targets in Israel while Israeli troops struck Hamas strongholds in the Gaza
Strip.
On Friday, three suspected Hamas insurgents were killed when Israeli
special forces, backed by tanks and attack helicopters, surrounded and
destroyed the house of leading bomber. The helicopters fired toward the home
of Adnan Al Ghul in Mujarkha, a village near Gaza City.
It was not clear whether Al Ghul was home, Palestinian sources said. But
they said Al Ghul's brother and nephew were killed in the blast.
Al Ghul has been regarded as the leading Hamas fugitive sought by
Israel. He is said to have directed missile and mortar attacks throughout
the Gaza Strip over the last two years.
Israeli officials said Palestinian insurgents have been infiltrating
Israel from the West Bank for attacks on civilian installations. On
Thursday, an Israeli paramilitary force detected and killed two suspected
Palestinian insurgents in Bakaa Gharabiya.
The two were part of a four-member insurgency squad that transported two
suitcase bombs for an attack on an unspecified Israeli city, officials said.
The remaining members were captured.
Officials acknowledged the prospect that leading insurgency groups would
declare a three-month truce. They said the government of Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon has relayed its concern to the United States that the truce
could jeopardize plans to disarm such groups as Fatah, Hamas and Islamic
Jihad.
On Friday, the Palestinian daily Al Ayyam reported that the insurgency
groups would announce a ceasefire on Sunday. The newspaper said the
announcement would be approved by PA Chairman Yasser Arafat.