The IDF, whose forces left the northern Gaza Strip area during the night, announced that its objectives had been reached. They had been operating mainly in the city of Beit Hanoun, less than two aerial kilometers from Sderot and the source of most of the Kassam rockets of the past several months.
As Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz said over the past several days, the mission objective was not to end the phenomenon of the daily rocket attacks, but rather to "reduce" them. The IDF noted with satisfaction that the rocket launching cells had been forced to move southward, and that the accuracy of their firings had been impaired.
Despite the official conclusion of the operation, sporadic battles continue, and PA sources announced that five of its fighters had been killed in two incidents over the night.
In the course of the offensive, St.-Sgt. Kiril Golshein, 21, of Moshav Shekef (just outside southern Judea, 15 kilometers west of Hevron), was killed. Close to 60 Palestinian Authority men were killed, nearly all of whom were armed Hamas and Fatah terrorists, and nine Kassam launching cells were encountered and attacked. Much ammunition and combat means were uncovered, including Kalachnikov rifles, RPG missile launchers, explosives, and more. In one case, five ready-to-fire Kassam launchers were destroyed.
On the other hand, one or two Kassams were fired this morning at Sderot, causing no damaged. An average of 5-8 Kassams were fired at the Negev and other Israeli areas on each of the last several days.
Some 2,000 Arabs in Gaza were detained for questioning during the offensive, and dozens of them were transferred for continued interrogation by the security forces.
The IDF made provisions for the passage of food, medicines, water purification kits, and other supplies during the offensive. Some 200 trucks carrying the supplies entered the Beit Hanoun region over the past week, electricity and water infrastructure repair crews entered as well, and even ambulances were allowed in to buttress those of the PA.
As Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz said over the past several days, the mission objective was not to end the phenomenon of the daily rocket attacks, but rather to "reduce" them. The IDF noted with satisfaction that the rocket launching cells had been forced to move southward, and that the accuracy of their firings had been impaired.
Despite the official conclusion of the operation, sporadic battles continue, and PA sources announced that five of its fighters had been killed in two incidents over the night.
In the course of the offensive, St.-Sgt. Kiril Golshein, 21, of Moshav Shekef (just outside southern Judea, 15 kilometers west of Hevron), was killed. Close to 60 Palestinian Authority men were killed, nearly all of whom were armed Hamas and Fatah terrorists, and nine Kassam launching cells were encountered and attacked. Much ammunition and combat means were uncovered, including Kalachnikov rifles, RPG missile launchers, explosives, and more. In one case, five ready-to-fire Kassam launchers were destroyed.
On the other hand, one or two Kassams were fired this morning at Sderot, causing no damaged. An average of 5-8 Kassams were fired at the Negev and other Israeli areas on each of the last several days.
Some 2,000 Arabs in Gaza were detained for questioning during the offensive, and dozens of them were transferred for continued interrogation by the security forces.
The IDF made provisions for the passage of food, medicines, water purification kits, and other supplies during the offensive. Some 200 trucks carrying the supplies entered the Beit Hanoun region over the past week, electricity and water infrastructure repair crews entered as well, and even ambulances were allowed in to buttress those of the PA.