IDF infantry troops and some 40 tanks raided a Hamas stronghold in the Sajaiye neighborhood in Gaza last night. The forces destroyed four explosives labs and 32 weapons-making lathes used for making mortar shells and Kassam rockets. The Arab terrorist forces sounded calls over mosque loudspeakers for the residents to take up arms and fight the Israelis; 11 Arabs were killed and over 20 wounded, while our side suffered no casualties.
The IDF battle commander said that his forces were met with fierce Arab resistance, including eight anti-tank bombs as the forces were entering the town. The bombs damaged some vehicles, but caused no casualties. At one point, Arab terrorists used a mosque as cover, throwing three grenades from the mosque at the IDF forces. The Israelis held their fire, for fear of damaging the Moslem house of worship.
Nearby, in the Jewish town of N'vei Dekalim in Gush Katif, Arab gunmen targeted an IDF post twice last night. No one was hurt, and the soldiers returned fire. This morning, Arab terrorists fired at the chicken coops of the Atzmona agricultural community, also in Gush Katif.
Other anti-terror action:
Large IDF forces also entered the city of Shechem last night, and plan to remain there for a number of days. The soldiers are making house-to-house searches for wanted terrorists and weapons. This afternoon, an IDF officer was lightly wounded when a cement block was thrown in his face in the city. South of Shechem, IDF forces destroyed the home of a Fatah terrorist who murdered two brothers - Shlomo and Mordechai Odessor of Tapuach - several months ago.
South of Jenin, IDF soldiers found a 12-kg. (26 lb.) explosive device, with the help of three Arab terrorists who were arrested in a nearby Arab village. The bomb was safely neutralized. Another large explosive was similarly found and neutralized on the Israeli-Egyptian border. Arabs threw grenades at the sappers; the Israelis fired back and killed one of the attackers.
Suspicious explosion:
A terrorist leader of the Al-Aksa Brigades of Fatah was killed when his car suddenly exploded in Jenin this afternoon. Three other wanted terrorists in the car were wounded. PA sources blame Israel for what they call an "assassination." Also in Jenin today, a terrorist responsible for close to ten suicide attacks in the past two years was sentenced to 21 consecutive life sentences - one for each of his dead victims - and another 40 years in prison for the 191 people he wounded, "whose lives were changed so drastically in one second by his murderous actions," in the words of the sentencing judges.
An Arab terrorist was apprehended while trying to infiltrate the northern Shomron community of Chomesh last night. Another infiltrator was shot and wounded this morning while attempting to cross the border fence near Gaza. This incident occurred near Kibbutz Nir Yitzchak, which is one of several Kerem Shalom bloc communities just south of the Gaza Strip, 40 kilometers due west of Be'er Sheva.
The IDF battle commander said that his forces were met with fierce Arab resistance, including eight anti-tank bombs as the forces were entering the town. The bombs damaged some vehicles, but caused no casualties. At one point, Arab terrorists used a mosque as cover, throwing three grenades from the mosque at the IDF forces. The Israelis held their fire, for fear of damaging the Moslem house of worship.
Nearby, in the Jewish town of N'vei Dekalim in Gush Katif, Arab gunmen targeted an IDF post twice last night. No one was hurt, and the soldiers returned fire. This morning, Arab terrorists fired at the chicken coops of the Atzmona agricultural community, also in Gush Katif.
Other anti-terror action:
Large IDF forces also entered the city of Shechem last night, and plan to remain there for a number of days. The soldiers are making house-to-house searches for wanted terrorists and weapons. This afternoon, an IDF officer was lightly wounded when a cement block was thrown in his face in the city. South of Shechem, IDF forces destroyed the home of a Fatah terrorist who murdered two brothers - Shlomo and Mordechai Odessor of Tapuach - several months ago.
South of Jenin, IDF soldiers found a 12-kg. (26 lb.) explosive device, with the help of three Arab terrorists who were arrested in a nearby Arab village. The bomb was safely neutralized. Another large explosive was similarly found and neutralized on the Israeli-Egyptian border. Arabs threw grenades at the sappers; the Israelis fired back and killed one of the attackers.
Suspicious explosion:
A terrorist leader of the Al-Aksa Brigades of Fatah was killed when his car suddenly exploded in Jenin this afternoon. Three other wanted terrorists in the car were wounded. PA sources blame Israel for what they call an "assassination." Also in Jenin today, a terrorist responsible for close to ten suicide attacks in the past two years was sentenced to 21 consecutive life sentences - one for each of his dead victims - and another 40 years in prison for the 191 people he wounded, "whose lives were changed so drastically in one second by his murderous actions," in the words of the sentencing judges.
An Arab terrorist was apprehended while trying to infiltrate the northern Shomron community of Chomesh last night. Another infiltrator was shot and wounded this morning while attempting to cross the border fence near Gaza. This incident occurred near Kibbutz Nir Yitzchak, which is one of several Kerem Shalom bloc communities just south of the Gaza Strip, 40 kilometers due west of Be'er Sheva.