The IDF's Operation Autumn Clouds entered its fifth day today (Sunday), having killed 45 terrorists in Gaza and uncovering much ammunition and explosives. Both Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz said that the objective of the current IDF offensive is to "reduce" - not uproot - "the Kassam rocket shootings from Gaza into Israel."
Public Security Minister Avi Dichter called for an even stronger military invasion of Gaza, saying only such activity could prevent increased terror activity from Gaza. Olmert said in response, "You generals, you always propose stronger measures after you leave your position; why didn't you make such proposals when you were in the Shabak?"
Peretz said that the offensive is going according to plan, and that the IDF is allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza.
In addition to the dead terrorists, a 12-year-old Arab girl was also killed - and Prime Minister Olmert blamed her death on the terrorists' desire to use civilians as cover and protection for their activities.
"The casualties among the Palestinians are chiefly armed men," Olmert told the Cabinet today. "Unfortunately, even under these circumstances, [the terrorists] use innocent people as human shields, and as a result, there are cases in which civilians who are not involved are hurt. The instructions given to the IDF forces are to make supreme efforts and to act cautiously and with sensitivity to prevent unnecessary deaths..."
The IDF attacked several terrorist cells over the weekend, including one that was in the midst firing Kassam rockets at Israel; at least four terrorists were killed in that attack. Arutz-7's Haggai Huberman says it can be disclosed that the rockets hit Kibbutz Saad, south of Sderot, since the launcher and the launching cell were destroyed immediately afterwards.
The forces also found many caches of ammunition, including rockets, explosives and other combat means.
An IDF soldier was injured in the fighting when an explosive device was hurled towards him. He was evacuated to Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva.
High Alert in Yesha
The IDF has intensified its security checks at Shomron (Samaria) and Binyamin checkpoints, in light of warnings by terrorist organizations that they plan to perpetrate attacks against Israelis. Members of the Al-Aqsa Brigades and the Popular Resistance Committees threatened last night that if the IDF offensive does not end within 48 hours, they will resume suicide terrorist attacks against Israel.
The security forces registered at least three major successes over the weekend. A terrorist vehicle was stopped before noon, and a female terrorist was found and arrested last night after she volunteered to carry out a suicide terror attack on behalf of Fatah. On Friday morning, a car bomb attack was thwarted; one terrorist was killed, and the car was safely detonated. In Shechem, explosives were thrown against an IDF force; no one was hurt.
Kassams Continue to Rain Down
Seven Kassam rockets were fired at Israel on Saturday night, including one that damaged a home in the Sdot Negev Regional Council. Over the past week, some 6-8 rockets have been fired at Israel every day.
Four more rockets were fired at Sderot this afternoon (Sunday), in two volleys. One rocket landed very near the fence of a school building, and two residents were treated for shock. Most of the schools in the city are still not reinforced against Kassam rockets, despite the government funding that has been allocated for this purpose.
Today's rockets were fired from the northern Gaza city of Sajaiye, further south of the Beit Hanoun area in which the IDF is operating. The military activity is thus hampering, but not putting an end to, Kassam launching capabilities.
Over the weekend, IDF forces besieged a mosque, trapping many terrorists inside. However, the terrorists circulated text messages calling upon local residents to come to the area; the residents supplied the terrorists with women's clothing, enabling them to escape by blending in with the crowd. Only eight terrorists were shot by Israeli forces.