ISRAEL'S MILITARY LAUNCHES GAZA ATTACK
GAZA CITY ø Israel's military has launched what was termed a
phased counter-insurgency operation in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli officials said a Cabinet panel approved options for strikes
against specific Palestinian insurgency leaders. So far, Israel's military
launched air and ground strikes against suspected insurgency targets in Gaza
City and Rafah. Palestinian sources reported that at least six Palestinians
were killed on late Tuesday and Wednesday.
"We will not agree that the Gaza Strip turn into Hamastan," Deputy
Defense Minister Zev Boim, referring to Israeli concerns of a Hamas takeover
of the Gaza Strip, said. "There's no difference between the [Hamas]
political and military wings: all of them are infected and are eligible
targets."
In Rafah, AH-64A Apache attack helicopters fired anti-tank missiles
toward Palestinian insurgency squads that tried to plant mines along the
route used by Israeli infantry forces. At least two Palestinians were said
to have been killed in the missile strikes.
Israeli tanks and armored personnel carriers have been deployed in the
northern and eastern Gaza Strip in what could portend a larger military
operation. Dozens of U.S.-origin M-60 and Merkava Mk-3 main battle tanks,
M113 APCs and D-9 armored bulldozers were concentrated at the Erez and
Kissufim terminals at the entrance to the Gaza Strip.
"The idea is for a series of precision strikes over the next
few days," an Israeli official said. "There will not be a massive invasion."
The Israeli military operation was meant to retaliate against the
Palestinian suicide attack at the port of Ashdod on Sunday in which 10
Israelis were
killed. Israeli officials said the Fatah-Hamas joint operation aimed to blow
up an ammonia tanker in the southern Israeli port.
Palestinian sources said insurgency groups and the Palestinian Authority
have been on alert for a massive Israeli assault. They said the ruling Fatah
movement as well as Hamas and Islamic Jihad have deployed fighters,
anti-tank missiles, rocket-propelled grenades and mines in every major Gaza
town. Insurgents have also constructed sand barriers to stop Israeli armored
vehicles.
In Gaza City, however, Hamas insurgents and agents from the PA Military
Intelligence waged a gun battle on Wednesday. An intelligence agent was
killed and 18 others were injured after security forces tried to stop a
Hamas vehicle that was said to have contained a Kassam-class short-range
missile.
