Israeli Defense Forces killed 14 terrorists in a massive offensive last night in the Palestinian Authority-controlled city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip where rockets and mortar shells often are fired at Jewish communities in Gush Katif. Two IDF soldiers were seriously wounded in the fighting and were flown by helicopter to Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva.
Terrorists in the same area three days ago fired about 30 mortar shells at nearby Jewish towns in one night, damaging at least five homes and sending several people to the hospital to be treated for shock. Gush Katif has counted 4,630 shells and rockets at their homes and property in the past four years, an average of more than three a day.
Army sources said the offensive, termed “The King’s Court,” will continue for an undetermined amount of time. Most of the terrorists were armed. Israeli soldiers spotted one of them with an anti-tank missile and immediately opened fire. Soldiers from the Givati unit, tanks and the engineer corps, escorted by Air Force helicopters, led the maneuvers.
Army bulldozers destroyed the house of a wanted Hamas terrorist who was responsible for hundreds of shooting and rocket attacks as well as helping to finance and manufacture weapons. The Army also reported that about 50 armed terrorists were injured.
IDF Deputy General Dotan Razili said there was opposition, including anti-tank missiles. He explained that by exposing areas used by terrorists, “they will be forced to distance themselves, and it will be more difficult for them” to shoot mortars on the Gush Katif communities.
Three Kassam rockets landed in the area of Sederot Monday morning, one of them near the entrance of the city. There was no damage and no one was injured.
Palestinian Authority officials denounced the IDF actions, claiming that most of the injured and killed were innocent civilians.
IDF forces in Khan Yunis
Terrorists in the same area three days ago fired about 30 mortar shells at nearby Jewish towns in one night, damaging at least five homes and sending several people to the hospital to be treated for shock. Gush Katif has counted 4,630 shells and rockets at their homes and property in the past four years, an average of more than three a day.
Army sources said the offensive, termed “The King’s Court,” will continue for an undetermined amount of time. Most of the terrorists were armed. Israeli soldiers spotted one of them with an anti-tank missile and immediately opened fire. Soldiers from the Givati unit, tanks and the engineer corps, escorted by Air Force helicopters, led the maneuvers.
Army bulldozers destroyed the house of a wanted Hamas terrorist who was responsible for hundreds of shooting and rocket attacks as well as helping to finance and manufacture weapons. The Army also reported that about 50 armed terrorists were injured.
IDF Deputy General Dotan Razili said there was opposition, including anti-tank missiles. He explained that by exposing areas used by terrorists, “they will be forced to distance themselves, and it will be more difficult for them” to shoot mortars on the Gush Katif communities.
Three Kassam rockets landed in the area of Sederot Monday morning, one of them near the entrance of the city. There was no damage and no one was injured.
Palestinian Authority officials denounced the IDF actions, claiming that most of the injured and killed were innocent civilians.