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| By Israel Insider staff September 27, 2007 |
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| IDF armor in action near Beit Hanun (Flash 90) |
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Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday complained about the Israel Defense Forces strikes on the Gaza Strip that have killed 11 Palestinian Islamic militants since late Wednesday.
The IDF was acting after 11 more Kassam rockets were fired on Israeli towns in the western Negev area.
Abbas, currently in New York, addressed the United Nations Security Council and world leaders and demanded that they intervene to "stop the massacre of Palestinians being carried out by the army of the occupation in the Gaza Strip."
Hamas, which seized control over Gaza from forces loyal to Abbas in June, vowed to avenge the deaths, vowing that Israel would "pay heavily" for the attack.
"The resistance factions are ready to force the Zionist enemy to pay a heavy price if they pursue their aggression. All options will be open to the factions in order to defend our people," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri.
Abbas aide Yasser Abed Rabbo, accompanying the Fatah leader in New York, said the Palestinian leadership was examining the option of calling on the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting to stop the "Israeli aggression," Israel Radio reported.
Meanwhile, Fatah has released an official announcement calling on Palestinians to become unified because of the "[Israeli] abuse, aggression and war crimes."
Two Hamas militants were killed and five wounded early Thursday in an Israel Air Force strike near Beit Hanun.
Several hours earlier, the IAF struck a car traveling in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, killed five Army of Islam militants. The IDF said in a statement that the car also carried rockets ready to be launched at Israel.
The Army of Islam was primarily responsible for the abduction of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit in June 2006, as well as the the March 12 abduction of BBC Gaza Correspondent Alan Johnston, released in early July.
On Wednesday evening, an IDF shell killed four Palestinians in Beit Hanun. The IDF said the shelling targeted a militant cell that specialized in anti-tank combat. Palestinians said at least 11 people were wounded in the incident.
IDF tanks and bulldozers entered the northern Gaza Strip near Beit Hanun to clear cover used by Palestinian militants when firing Qassams from the area.
At a funeral on Thursday, hundreds of Army of Islam gunmen -- sported long beards and black headbands-- marched in a funeral procession in Gaza City, firing in the air in their first-ever public appearance in such large numbers. Many wore mask and dark robes, a style of dress more common in Afghanistan or Pakistan than in Gaza.
Eleven Qassams were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip, including two that hit the town of Sderot, one damaging a house in a western Negev community, Israel Radio reported. The IDF said no ones was injured in the attacks.
The casualties were the heaviest in Gaza since the government declared the strip a "hostile territory", and came hours after Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned of a large-scale military operation in the Strip to halt Qassam rocket fire on Israel. Barak told Army Radio Wednesday morning that Israel "is approaching a large-scale operation ... in the Gaza Strip due to the continued Qassam rocket fire."
"One must understand that such an operation is not simple in terms of force [size], the length of time for which we will have to stay [in the Strip], and in terms of the operation limits that the soldiers will encounter," Barak said. "It is very complicated."
Prime Minister's Office spokesman David Baker said Wednesday that Israel would continue to take "pre-emptive measures" to prevent rocket attacks or other assaults on its citizens.
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