Dozens of armed Arabs broke into the central prison in Gaza and murdered three prisoners. They claimed that death sentences that were handed down were not carried out.
Yesterday's break-in to the Gaza prison was the third event of its kind in several months. Some of the attackers were arrested, but most escaped.
Abu Mazen responded by firing 20 police leaders, including Abdel Razik Majaideh.
Some see this move as a response to the unprecedented bombardment of Jewish communities in Gaza with over 30 mortar shells and Kassam rockets on Wednesday night and Thursday. No one was hurt in the attack, though one house suffered a direct hit. The attacks appeared to be directed against both Israel and Abu Mazen.
The Jewish communities in Gaza passed a quiet night last night. Though the bombardment of the night before was capped off by several shells at Morag and Netzarim early yesterday afternoon, the last recorded violent attack was a shooting at an IDF position near an IDF post outside Rafiah Yam shortly before 9 PM. No one was hurt.
Dozens of Gush Katif residents protested this morning against the attacks and the political "gestures" by Prime Minister Sharon to Abu Mazen that enabled them. The beleaguered protestors attempted to stop Arab traffic that is now able to travel checkpoint-free along the north-south Tancher Route. Police detained four demonstrators for questioning.
The north-south route that has long had an IDF checkpoint controlling its traffic is now open 24 hours a day to local Arab traffic, with no Israeli supervision. "This enables the terrorists to rearm and transport mortar shells with no disturbance," Katif.net reports.
Gush Katif resident MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union) sharply criticized the political gestures that preceded the storm of mortar shells. "Sharon apparently feels that in the framework of the hudna [temporary ceasefire], the blood of the Gush Katif residents is cheap," Hendel said. "His plan to expel us gives the terrorists a sense of encouragement and victory, and only if it is stopped and if war is waged will there be quiet."
Yesterday's break-in to the Gaza prison was the third event of its kind in several months. Some of the attackers were arrested, but most escaped.
Abu Mazen responded by firing 20 police leaders, including Abdel Razik Majaideh.
Some see this move as a response to the unprecedented bombardment of Jewish communities in Gaza with over 30 mortar shells and Kassam rockets on Wednesday night and Thursday. No one was hurt in the attack, though one house suffered a direct hit. The attacks appeared to be directed against both Israel and Abu Mazen.
The Jewish communities in Gaza passed a quiet night last night. Though the bombardment of the night before was capped off by several shells at Morag and Netzarim early yesterday afternoon, the last recorded violent attack was a shooting at an IDF position near an IDF post outside Rafiah Yam shortly before 9 PM. No one was hurt.
Dozens of Gush Katif residents protested this morning against the attacks and the political "gestures" by Prime Minister Sharon to Abu Mazen that enabled them. The beleaguered protestors attempted to stop Arab traffic that is now able to travel checkpoint-free along the north-south Tancher Route. Police detained four demonstrators for questioning.
The north-south route that has long had an IDF checkpoint controlling its traffic is now open 24 hours a day to local Arab traffic, with no Israeli supervision. "This enables the terrorists to rearm and transport mortar shells with no disturbance," Katif.net reports.
Gush Katif resident MK Tzvi Hendel (National Union) sharply criticized the political gestures that preceded the storm of mortar shells. "Sharon apparently feels that in the framework of the hudna [temporary ceasefire], the blood of the Gush Katif residents is cheap," Hendel said. "His plan to expel us gives the terrorists a sense of encouragement and victory, and only if it is stopped and if war is waged will there be quiet."