GAZA CITY — Hizbullah has ordered an escalation in Palestinian
missile and suicide strikes against Israel in what is being seen as an attempt to divert Israel's attention from Hizbullah sites in Lebanon.
Palestinian sources said Hizbullah orders have been relayed to Hamas and
Islamic Jihad commanders in the Gaza Strip. The sources said the orders,
approved by the Palestinian command in Damascus, called for an
intensification of missile fire from the Gaza Strip as well as suicide
strikes.
"The aim is to divert Israel's attention away from Lebanon and prevent a
ground attack," a Palestinian source said.
On Monday, Israel reported foiling a suicide strike in downtown
Jerusalem, Middle East Newsline reported. Officials said a police officer detected a suspicious pedestrian,
who admitted that he was carrying a large bomb.
Islamic Jihad has announced an operation termed Al Buraq, aimed to help
Hizbullah in its war with Israel. The operation called for intense
missile strikes from the Gaza Strip against nearby Israeli cities.
Over the last 24 hours, Palestinian gunners fired at least 20
Kassam-class, short-range missiles into Israel. A foreign laborer was
injured.
On Tuesday, authorities reported that a Hamas operative attempted to
abduct an Israeli soldier in southern Israel. The woman soldier fought off
her attacker and he was captured.
The military has completed what military sources termed a major ground
operation in the northern Gaza Strip. The sources said at least 20
Palestinians were killed or injured in three days of battles around Bet
Hanoun, employed as a leading missile launching site.
