A resident of the northern Gaza city of Beit Hanoun told the Hebrew newspaper Ma'ariv that Hamas terrorists beat several residents while seizing their apartments for attacks on Israel. "They set up heavy machine guns in the windows and planted large explosive devices on the sidewalks," according to the eyewitness, Abu Rajah.

He said the terrorists also moved heavy sandbags into bedrooms and forced all the residents to leave. "Scores of masked men rushed to the area," he added. "Most of them carried large bags full of weapons."