Early yesterday morning, large IDF forces entered the refugee slum of El Bureij in Gaza in a counter-terrorism operation. The target: terrorist cells involved in firing mortar and anti-tank shells against Israeli towns in and out of Gaza, and cells specializing in placing roadside bombs. The battle began as soon as the dozens of Israeli vehicles, backed up by two Apache helicopters, entered the area and called on loudspeakers for the armed terrorists to give themselves up. Instead, the terrorists responded with dozens of anti-tank missiles, automatic fire, grenades and other explosive devices towards IDF forces. Fourteen Arabs, most of them terrorists, were killed, while no Israelis were hurt.
The operation was a continuation of the army's regular offensives against terrorism, according to IDF sources, and was not a response to the attempted joint Islamic Jihad-Hamas-Fatah multi-attack of the day before.
Hamas sources promised once again to avenge the attack, saying that Ariel Sharon would be forced to run away from Gaza in defeat. PA spokesmen said that Sharon was trying to "destroy" Gaza, in an attempt to ensure that Israel does not appear as retreating from Gaza under fire.
A suicide terrorist was stopped only shortly before he was to carry out an intended murderous attack in Jerusalem on Saturday night. IDF forces entered Ramallah, just north of the capital, and stopped the would-be murderer in time. Security forces continue to remain on high alert across the country, and intelligence officials are reporting some 50 terror warnings.
Also on Saturday night, IDF soldiers discovered a Palestinian terrorist explosives lab in the northern Shomron, including mortar shells, pipes for pipe bombs, a cellular phone attached to wires, and more. The lab was safely detonated... Arab gunmen fired at an IDF force near Shechem; no one was hurt, and IDF soldiers returned fire... A Kassam rocket landed this morning in a Western Negev town, and two mortar shells were fired towards N'vei Dekalim. No one was hurt... There was shooting yesterday and today at soldiers on the Karni-Netzarim route in Gaza...
The operation was a continuation of the army's regular offensives against terrorism, according to IDF sources, and was not a response to the attempted joint Islamic Jihad-Hamas-Fatah multi-attack of the day before.
Hamas sources promised once again to avenge the attack, saying that Ariel Sharon would be forced to run away from Gaza in defeat. PA spokesmen said that Sharon was trying to "destroy" Gaza, in an attempt to ensure that Israel does not appear as retreating from Gaza under fire.
A suicide terrorist was stopped only shortly before he was to carry out an intended murderous attack in Jerusalem on Saturday night. IDF forces entered Ramallah, just north of the capital, and stopped the would-be murderer in time. Security forces continue to remain on high alert across the country, and intelligence officials are reporting some 50 terror warnings.
Also on Saturday night, IDF soldiers discovered a Palestinian terrorist explosives lab in the northern Shomron, including mortar shells, pipes for pipe bombs, a cellular phone attached to wires, and more. The lab was safely detonated... Arab gunmen fired at an IDF force near Shechem; no one was hurt, and IDF soldiers returned fire... A Kassam rocket landed this morning in a Western Negev town, and two mortar shells were fired towards N'vei Dekalim. No one was hurt... There was shooting yesterday and today at soldiers on the Karni-Netzarim route in Gaza...