The government granted permission Monday morning for expanded IDF ground operations in Gaza. However, the cabinet has not approved IDF entry into Arab cities in the region. Security sources say that most strikes against local terrorists will continue to be carried out by the Israel Air Force.
By early Monday afternoon, Palestinian Authority terrorists in Gaza had fired 8-10 rockets at Sderot and environs. One of the rockets landed near a residential area of the southern city, causing light injuries to one person; several female soldiers were treated for shock.
Though schools were re-opened in Sderot today, only some 800 students arrived, out of 3,000 who are registered. Less than 20% of the town's 900 nursery children arrived for their "studies," which are taking place in shelters or other protected areas.
Shabak (General Security Service) Chief Yuval Diskin, speaking at the weekly Cabinet meeting, predicted that Hamas would escalate its attacks on Israel. He said, however, that "time is working against Hamas. We must continue to exact a daily toll from them." Diskin ruled out a massive ground offensive in Gaza, because "Hamas has established a terror infrastructure along the lines of Hizbullah - tunnels, mines, suicide terrorists, and snipers."
IDF soldiers are currently stationed in northern Gaza, including in the ruins of Jewish towns
Soldiers are currently stationed in northern Gaza, including in the ruins of Jewish towns.
Israel evacuated and destroyed in 2005, and immediately outside of the Gaza security fence. IDF Southern District commanders will increase the number of soldiers in the area in the near future. Military officials said Sunday that despite the growing pressure on Hamas to call for a ceasefire, the fighting in Gaza is expected to last for several weeks.
PA sources reported that two Hamas terrorists were critically wounded Sunday night while firing a mortar shell from southern Gaza at targets in the western Negev. Hamas claimed that IDF soldiers spotted the cell and responded with artillery fire, which caused their injuries. IDF sources rejected the claims, saying that the IDF noted the mortar fire but did not respond with artillery.
Judea and Samaria
On the Judea and Samaria front in the Palestinian Authority's ongoing terror war against Israel, gunmen opened fire on IDF soldiers on Sunday night in the Ain Beit Ilma neighborhood of Shechem. The soldiers were taking part in counter-terrorism operations at the time. No soldiers were injured in the attack and no damage was reported.
In other operations overnight Sunday, IDF soldiers arrested eight wanted terrorists. In Jenin, a member of Fatah's Tanzim militia and a female member of Hamas were taken into custody. A member of Hamas was arrested in Bethlehem. One member of Fatah and one member of Hamas were arrested in a village southwest of Bethlehem, and another member of Hamas was arrested in a village northeast of Bethlehem. Two additional terrorists were arrested in Hevron. All eight terrorists have been transferred to GSS custody for questioning.