In Shechem, IDF forces once again took action in the Kasbah area, only a week after completing a thorough anti-terrorism offensive there. Arab sources say that the army took over several buildings in the area, that explosions were heard, and that two Arabs have been killed. An explosives vest was found in one home, together with five pipebombs and ammunition.
A similar but more violent offensive in Gaza has led to the razing of four terrorist homes and the arrest of six terrorists - including one of the most senior Hamas leaders in Gaza. Dozens of tanks and combat helicopters took part in the counter-terrorism offensive. The terrorist forces fought back with an RPG missile, seven explosive charges (including one of 100 kilograms), dozens of hand grenades, and gunfire. Eight Arabs were killed and 25 were wounded, and two IDF soldiers were lightly wounded.
In one incident during the mission, IDF forces searched the house of the Taha family, members of which are Hamas members involved in planning and perpetrating terror attacks. Two of the family members threw grenades toward the IDF forces, which returned fire and wounding two people. The injured were taken for medical treatment in an Israeli hospital. Searches conducted inside the Taha house yielded an M-16 rifle and an explosive belt, and army sappers then demolished the house. The IDF announced, as
usual, that the demolition of terrorists' houses "sends the message to suicide bombers and those who support their activities that they will pay the price for participating in terrorist activity."
Gush Katif spokesman Eran Sternberg said today that the IDF has in fact been waging stronger and more frequent counter-terrorism actions over the past few weeks. "No one action can do the trick," he said, "but the series of actions that we've seen of late has certainly been effective, and we've in fact noticed a drop in the Kassam and mortar attacks on us. It's been a few nights now that we've been able to sleep quietly. We greatly appreciate the efforts of the soldiers and the forces, and we hope that they will keep
them up. It is clear that without IDF presence in these areas, the threat of rockets against Sderot will always be there. We have to ask, however, why the army waited so long? For instance, why did it take the murder of the soldier Doron Lev last week to get the army to raze the eight-story building from which the shots were fired? After all, it was not the first time that shots were fired from there."
A similar but more violent offensive in Gaza has led to the razing of four terrorist homes and the arrest of six terrorists - including one of the most senior Hamas leaders in Gaza. Dozens of tanks and combat helicopters took part in the counter-terrorism offensive. The terrorist forces fought back with an RPG missile, seven explosive charges (including one of 100 kilograms), dozens of hand grenades, and gunfire. Eight Arabs were killed and 25 were wounded, and two IDF soldiers were lightly wounded.
In one incident during the mission, IDF forces searched the house of the Taha family, members of which are Hamas members involved in planning and perpetrating terror attacks. Two of the family members threw grenades toward the IDF forces, which returned fire and wounding two people. The injured were taken for medical treatment in an Israeli hospital. Searches conducted inside the Taha house yielded an M-16 rifle and an explosive belt, and army sappers then demolished the house. The IDF announced, as
usual, that the demolition of terrorists' houses "sends the message to suicide bombers and those who support their activities that they will pay the price for participating in terrorist activity."
Gush Katif spokesman Eran Sternberg said today that the IDF has in fact been waging stronger and more frequent counter-terrorism actions over the past few weeks. "No one action can do the trick," he said, "but the series of actions that we've seen of late has certainly been effective, and we've in fact noticed a drop in the Kassam and mortar attacks on us. It's been a few nights now that we've been able to sleep quietly. We greatly appreciate the efforts of the soldiers and the forces, and we hope that they will keep
them up. It is clear that without IDF presence in these areas, the threat of rockets against Sderot will always be there. We have to ask, however, why the army waited so long? For instance, why did it take the murder of the soldier Doron Lev last week to get the army to raze the eight-story building from which the shots were fired? After all, it was not the first time that shots were fired from there."