GAZA CITY, 18 May 2007 — Israel destroyed a Hamas compound and killed four Palestinians in a second day of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip yesterday. At least 40 civilians were wounded in the Israeli attacks.

Israeli troops with tanks also entered the Gaza Strip, the coastal enclave from which Israel withdrew in 2005. A spokesman called it a “small force” on a “defensive operation.”

Israeli artillery batteries were deployed along the Gaza border and local residents said tanks were moving toward northern Gaza towns. The army had no comment on the movements. Israeli forces recently completed training for a possible ground invasion of Gaza. The Israeli army broke into local radio broadcasts to warn northern Gaza residents not to approach Israeli forces operating in the area.

The Israeli Army confirmed three separate airstrikes, which came after Israel threatened “harsh” action in response to repeated Palestinian rocket attacks. More than 50 rockets have fallen on the Israeli town of Sderot in the last three days.

The Israeli attacks came amid raging Fatah-Hamas street battles that have turned the densely populated seaside city into a war zone. A new cease-fire between the warring Palestinian factions sharply reduced the infighting yesterday. But by evening, four people had been killed in fresh clashes.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas canceled a trip to Gaza after it was discovered that Hamas members planned to blow up his convoy, a senior security official said. “Abu Mazen’s (Abbas’) visit to Gaza was canceled after the discovery of a tunnel under Salaheddine Road full of explosives placed by the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades to blow up (Abbas’) convoy,” said the official. “The explosives were found on the route that Abu Mazen takes to travel to Gaza,” the source added.

“Israel will defend our citizens. We will actively stop rockets, rocket launchers and those who plan the terror infrastructure,” said Israeli government spokeswoman Miri Eisin. She repeated Israel’s vow not to be drawn into the Gaza morass, but the heavy airstrike raised questions about the commitment.

Hamas’ armed wing threatened to resume bombings in Israel after the Gaza attack leveled the multistory concrete structure. A Hamas bomber last struck in Israel in 2004.

About two hours after the attack on the office building, another airstrike targeted a car carrying a senior commander in Hamas’ armed wing. He was seriously wounded and another fighter in the vehicle was killed.

A third air attack, aimed at an Executive Force position outside the home of the Interior Ministry’s spokesman, killed a Hamas fighter.

In southern Gaza, an Israeli airstrike killed two teenage brothers, whom hospital officials described as civilains.

At least two Israelis were lightly wounded earlier by rocket salvoes in Sderot, near the Gaza border.

The United States said that Israel had the right to defend itself against rocket attacks from the Palestinians and praised the Jewish state for “great restraint” in recent days. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack urged restraint on all sides but said Israel had the right to respond to rocket attacks from Hamas.

The Israeli Army has denied its attacks were connected to Palestinian factional violence.

The Gaza violence has worsened conditions for Palestinians hard hit by Western sanctions against the Hamas-led government. Olmert has ruled out serious peace talks so long as the government refuses to recognize Israel and renounce violence.

In a telephone call to Abbas, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak urged an end to the factional fighting, Egyptian state news agency MENA reported.

Mubarak said the “spilling of Palestinian blood is taboo” and called on “all Palestinian factions to cooperate” with Egyptian diplomats seeking to broker an end to renewed fighting. Egypt has for many years offered its good offices to encourage dialogue between the Palestinians and Israel. It has also been seeking to help Hamas and Fatah resolve their differences.

— Additional input from agencies

Source: Arab News  

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