ISRAELI OFFENSIVE IN GAZA INTENSIFIES
Randy L. Harrington
July 12, 2006
GAZA-- Wednesday morning Israeli forces moved with force into central Gaza and expanded their two-week offensive against Palestinian Hamas terrorists to gain the release of their captured soldiers, and stop rockets fired into Israel.
The Israeli air force dropped a powerful bomb on a Gaza City home in the early morning hours, targeting Hamas leaders that were in the home. Hamas leader Nabil Abu Selmiya, and his wife Salwa, as well as nine family members were killed in the blast.
Israeli intelligence sources said that the main target of the bombing was Hamas Leader Muhammad Deif who Israel has hunted for over a decade. Israeli military said that Deif, who has been responsible for the death of dozens of Israelis was the target, and was injured in the blast.
Just after midnight Israeli tanks, armored attack vehicles, and bulldozers being supported by Apache attack helicopters crossed into central Gaza near Kissufim. Israeli forces came under attack by street fighters, and homemade rockets that proved no real threat to attacking Israeli forces that continued on their assault.
After Israeli forces took the town, troops turned southeast to the town of Deir a Balah, into the neighborhood of Abu Alajeen. One Palestinian terrorist, later identified as a member of Palestinian security forces died in an exchange and hail of gunfire with Israeli troops. Another Palestinian Hamas terrorist was wounded.
Israelis also began a psychological operations campaign when they began interrupting local radio stations to broadcast warnings in Arabic that “the Israeli army is going to continue its operation in the Gaza Strip until the captive soldier is release. Israel is interested in your well being. Is this the welfare that Hamas promised you?
The message warns Palestinians not to allow militants to fire rockets into Israel.
Militants scrambling to make a showing of defense tried to fire rockets toward the Kissifim border as dozens of armored vehicles with hundreds of soldiers pushed into central Gaza. The rockets fired fell short.
An Israeli commander on the ground said that “Our main target is the terrorist infrastructure: the rocket crews, the gunmen, the arms caches. But of course we are here to show that if, God forbid, any of us is captured by the enemy, the army will do everything to secure his return.”
The Israeli government says that its objective of the offensive is to gain the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit who was kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists on June 25, and stop Palestinian rocket fire into Israel.
SOURCES/CONTRIBUTORS: AP WIRE; REUTERS
Copyright 2006 Randy L. Harrington. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The Israeli air force dropped a powerful bomb on a Gaza City home in the early morning hours, targeting Hamas leaders that were in the home. Hamas leader Nabil Abu Selmiya, and his wife Salwa, as well as nine family members were killed in the blast.
Israeli intelligence sources said that the main target of the bombing was Hamas Leader Muhammad Deif who Israel has hunted for over a decade. Israeli military said that Deif, who has been responsible for the death of dozens of Israelis was the target, and was injured in the blast.
Just after midnight Israeli tanks, armored attack vehicles, and bulldozers being supported by Apache attack helicopters crossed into central Gaza near Kissufim. Israeli forces came under attack by street fighters, and homemade rockets that proved no real threat to attacking Israeli forces that continued on their assault.
After Israeli forces took the town, troops turned southeast to the town of Deir a Balah, into the neighborhood of Abu Alajeen. One Palestinian terrorist, later identified as a member of Palestinian security forces died in an exchange and hail of gunfire with Israeli troops. Another Palestinian Hamas terrorist was wounded.
Israelis also began a psychological operations campaign when they began interrupting local radio stations to broadcast warnings in Arabic that “the Israeli army is going to continue its operation in the Gaza Strip until the captive soldier is release. Israel is interested in your well being. Is this the welfare that Hamas promised you?
The message warns Palestinians not to allow militants to fire rockets into Israel.
Militants scrambling to make a showing of defense tried to fire rockets toward the Kissifim border as dozens of armored vehicles with hundreds of soldiers pushed into central Gaza. The rockets fired fell short.
An Israeli commander on the ground said that “Our main target is the terrorist infrastructure: the rocket crews, the gunmen, the arms caches. But of course we are here to show that if, God forbid, any of us is captured by the enemy, the army will do everything to secure his return.”
The Israeli government says that its objective of the offensive is to gain the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit who was kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists on June 25, and stop Palestinian rocket fire into Israel.
SOURCES/CONTRIBUTORS: AP WIRE; REUTERS
Copyright 2006 Randy L. Harrington. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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