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Rescue workers inspect Katyusha damage in Ashkelon (Flash90)
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| By Israel Insider staff March 1, 2008 |
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Early Saturday morning, IDF soldiers entered the northern Gaza Strip and began operating near the town of Sajaiya. 43 Palestinians have since been killed in heavy exchanges of fire in the area. More than 60 Palestinians were injured. Most of the gunmen killed were Hamas members. Several others were Islamic Jihad operatives and one was a member of the Popular Resistance Committees. Palestinians reported that 12 of the casualties were civilians, including eight children, three women and two unarmed men. Two soldiers have been killed, and six were lightly to moderately injured in the clashes.
St. Sgt. Doron Asulin, 20, from Beersheba and St. Sgt. Eran Dan-Gur, 20, from Jerusalem were killed. Both were combat soldiers of the Givati Brigade.
Givati and armor forces were deployed near Sajaiya on Friday night, not far from the populated area, and set out on a routine operation intended to uncover terror infrastructure and prevent terror attacks planned in the border area. IDF officials had expected that terror organizations would target the soldiers, and that the resistance level to the operation would be high. "The activity is taking place in areas which the terror organizations want to guard, including launching pads," a military source explained. "We are fighting against a large scope of armed gunmen. The soldiers have encountered various countermeasures, such as explosive devises, anti-tank missiles and sniper fire.
"There have been several attempts (by gunmen) to try and harm the troops in order to accomplish a show of force, but the soldiers are ready for it," added the source. "The IAF is assisting us and the cooperation between the ground forces and the aerial ones is satisfactory."
At least 46 rockets have been launched at Israel from Gaza since Friday night, some landing in open areas in Sderot and the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council. Three people were lightly injured Saturday morning by shrapnel in a Grad rocket attack on the city of Ashkelon. Three rockets were fired at the city, causing lightly injuries and property damage. Several people suffered from shock.
Residents of the city have been staying indoors, and the streets have been nearly empty all day.
In all, 65 Palestinians have been killed since clashes between Israel and Hamas terrorists sparked Wednesday when an Israeli student at Sapir College in Sderot was killed by a Kassam rocket.
Hamas said a baby was killed and three other civilians were wounded in an Israeli strike on Beit Hanun, a northern town where Palestinians often launch rockets at Israel. But local residents said one of those rockets fell short and landed near the baby's house. It is unclear how many other civilian casualties claimed by the Palestinians were directly or indirectly caused by their own rockets or the use of civilian areas as launching pads for rockets against Israel. |
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