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IDF forces prepare to enter the Beit Hanun area overnight. (AP)
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| By Ynetnews November 1, 2006 |
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A soldier was killed early Wednesday during IDF operations in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza. He was wounded by gunshots fired by Palestinian gunmen and was evacuated for medical treatment, but died shortly afterwards. Later, IDF forces once again identified the group of gunmen and opened fire, hitting at least two.
The soldier, who was shot at approximately 2:30 a.m. as forces were entering Palestinian territory, was the IDF's only casualty in the operation.
He is the third IDF fatality in Gaza since the Kerem Shalom attack in which Gilad Shalit was kidnapped and two of his comrades killed.
The Israeli Air Force attacked the northern Gaza Strip, near Beit Hanoun, early Wednesday. IDF officials reported that at least six Palestinian gunmen were killed and about 20 others were wounded. During the operation, a number of antitank missiles were shot at IDF soldiers.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the operation "a massacre", while Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh declared: "This is the fruit of (Israel Our Home Chairman Avigdor) Lieberman's addition to the government."
Defense Minister Amir Peretz said that the current operation is aimed at "significantly reducing" the Qassam rocket launches from the Strip.
However, while forces were in Gaza, two Qassams were shot at western Negev towns, one of them hitting an industrial area in Sderot, consequently causing a fire that injured two people.
Peretz stressed the limited nature of the operation and the emphasis on "not being dragged after the terrorist cells." Wednesday afternoon, he received the security cabinet's approval to continue operations of this nature, while undergoing preparations for more extensive operations if the need arises.
Operations in Beit Hanoun are combined operations with air and ground forces, comprised of infantry, armored corps and engineer corps forces.
Beit Hanoun, home to some 28 thousand residents, is considered the source of Qassams towards Sderot. In the past year, some 300 such rockets have been launched from the area.
The IDF reported that the first aerial attack was made against an armed Palestinian identified next to the soldiers. The Air Force attacked again, this time at a cell of armed gunmen laying a bomb. In addition, Israeli infantry troops backed by armored forces entered northern Gaza before dawn and gun battles ensued, followed by several air strikes, witnesses said. The IDF reported that this is part of expanding operations in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian eye witnesses confirmed that about 40 IDF armed vehicles and bulldozers operated in the northern Gaza Strip, but the IDF didn't confirm these figures.
According to Palestinian sources, during the attacks, a gun battle broke out between the Palestinians and the IDF soldiers. Ambulances were unable to reach some casualties due to the intensity of the gunfire, witnesses said.
An Israeli military spokesman confirmed that "there is ground action in northern Gaza now." IDF sources confirmed that the IDF intends to embark on another action in the Gaza Strip ? this time broader and in different areas in Gaza ? in the coming days.
"There is no way to hold on to territory in the Gaza Strip over the long-run, but we must act vigorously against the terror infrastructure, both those operating today and those that will operate in the future," senior IDF officials said to Ynet. "An expansion of operations in Gaza is expected shortly."
The current operation is expected to be comprehensive in terms of forces operating in the field as well as the time allotted for the operation. However, the IDF clarified that the operation won't last many weeks, but is planned to be similar to the operation carried out after the kidnapping of Cpl. Gilad Shalit.
The defense cabinet met Wednesday morning to discuss expanding operations, but accepted Peretz's rejection of a broad offensive to retake the Philadelphi route, where dozens of weapons-smuggling tunners were discovered. Tuesday, Southern Command Chief Yoav Galnat warned against going into Gaza with the equivalent of a division as the Palestinians are preparing advanced antitank equipment in preparation for the expanded confrontation with the IDF.
It was reported Tuesday that three gunmen form the Az a-Din al-Qassam Battalions, the military arm of the Hamas, were killed by IDF forces. The operation was in a village next to Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. The Palestnians reported that three people were killed in another incident.
These articles were derived from Ynetnews.
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