In response to the continuous terrorist activity by Palestinian groups against the State of Israel, the Israel Air Force has carried out numerous air strikes in the northern Gaza Strip over the past few days, targeting vehicles transporting Hamas operatives armed with weapons, weapons caches and Hamas cells.
Source: IDF
Summary of events in the Gaza Strip yesterday
Yesterday. May 19th 2007, 21 rockets were launched by Palestinian terrorists from the Gaza Strip.
In the past five days terrorists have launched approximately 130 rockets into Israel.
Overnight the IDF attacked five terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip:
A Hamas cell in the city of Gaza
A Hamas vehicle carrying large amounts of weaponry, which caused an
exceptionally large explosion.
Three weapons-production facilities- the first in Beit Lahiya, the second in
the city of Gaza and the third in Nuserat in the central Gaza Strip.
The IDF will continue to operate against the terrorist organizations in order to ensure the security and safety of the citizens of Israel.
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Summary of events in the Gaza Strip today (May 19, 2007)
Today Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip launched 14 rockets into Israel. In the past five days terrorists have launched over 120 rockets into Israel.
Throughout the day the IDF attacked three terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip:
· Two Hamas weapons-production facilities in the city of Gaza.
· A rocket launching cell which had just launched a rocket at Sderot.
Also, two IDF soldiers were lightly injured by an anti-tank missile fired at an IDF engineering vehicle in the northern Gaza Strip. The two were evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment.
The IDF will continue to operate against the terrorist organizations in order to ensure the security and safety of the citizens of Israel.
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Summary of events in the Gaza Strip today (May 18, 2007)
Today Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip launched 17 rockets into Israel, lightly injuring an Israeli civilian and damaging three buildings.
In the past four days terrorists have launched approximately 110 rockets into Israel.
As of this afternoon the IDF attacked three targets in the Gaza Strip:
A Hamas post in the central Gaza Strip.
A Hamas vehicle laden with weaponry in the city of Gaza.
A second vehicle filled with weaponry in the city of Gaza.
The IDF will continue to operate against the terrorist organizations in order to ensure the security and safety of the citizens of Israel.
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IDF uncovers pipe bombs near Shchem
IDF soldiers uncovered three pipe bombs at the Hawara checkpoint south of Shchem (Nablus) Wednesday afternoon. The explosives were detonated safely by Border Police sappers. There were no injuries or damage reported.
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IDF targets Hamas terrorist headquarters in Gaza City
Following continuous launchings of rockets into Israel and other terrorist activities executed by Hamas and other terror organizations, the IDF carried out, a short while ago, an aerial attack against a Hamas terrorist headquarters in Gaza City, in the northern Gaza Strip.
The IDF will continue to operate against the terror organizations in order to ensure the security and safety of all the citizens of Israel.
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Source: Israel Foreign Ministry
Briefing by FM Tzipi Livni to the Diplomatic Corps
May 18, 2007
Opening statement (Open to the press)
Clearly, Israeli citizens in the southern part of Israel are under constant
attack. During the last few days, more than 60 missiles have been fired in
order to attack civilians, in order to attack children, in order to attack
families. During the past few days, children cannot go to school, families
have had to leave their homes. The situation is intolerable and unbearable.
The situation in the south is not part of an ongoing conflict between Israel
and the Palestinians. Unfortunately, since last year we are facing a
Hamas-led government in the Palestinian Authority, and the current situation
is the result of an internal crisis in the Palestinian Authority between
Hamas, which is a terrorist organization, and other factions in Palestinian
society.
There is no reason to target Israel. The only reason is in order to
negatively impact the situation, in order to bring Israel back to the Gaza
Strip, in order to blame the common enemy of the Palestinian people - which
is, unfortunately, Israel. But there is no reason for these attacks.
I would like to say that we also have some expectations from the
international community. I know that all of you would like to see peace in
the Middle East, and believe me, so do we. This is our goal. This is the
reason why Israel completely withdrew from the Gaza Strip. This is the
reason why Israel dismantled settlements in the Gaza Strip. This is the
reason why Israel removed its forces from the Gaza Strip. This is the reason
why Israel kept the greenhouses in the Gaza Strip intact and delivered them
to the Palestinians. This is the reason why Israel is making every effort to
make the lives of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip easier.
But I would like you to understand that the way to stop it is not only by
embracing the moderates; it is not only by demanding that Israel ease the
lives of the Palestinians; it is not only about passages. Sometimes, there
is the need to show determination, to put pressure on the extremists, to put
pressure on these terrorists - in order that they and the Palestinian people
will understand that this is something which is not tolerable. This is
something that also affects their lives.
During the last few days, Israel has made some decisions and we are going to
have another government meeting on Sunday. But I just want to say that I
think that, for too long, the international community has taken the
situation in the southern part of Israel as acceptable, as part of the
routine in Israel - and it is not. Enough is enough.
During this briefing, you will hear more about the internal situation within
the Palestinian Authority, and I will try and explain what the options are,
so that you will also understand.
Of course, I would also like to take this opportunity to send our message of
understanding and empathy to the people of Sderot. And I believe that I am
not doing this only personally, but that you share with us the same feeling
and understanding, and the need to help and understand their situation.
####
U.S. ASSURES PA THAT ISRAEL WON'T INVADE GAZA
GAZA CITY [Middle East Newsline] -- The United States has assured the Palestinian Authority that Israel would not invade the Gaza Strip.
PA sources said the State Department sent a message to the PA that the Israeli military was ordered not to conduct large-scale operations in the Gaza Strip. The sources said the military restraint came in wake of U.S. warnings to the government of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
"We've received assurances from the highest levels in the U.S. government that Israel would not launch a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip," a
PA source said.
The U.S. assurances were relayed to the PA amid military pressure on the Israeli government to invade the Gaza Strip. The military has warned that only an Israeli ground operation could reduce Palestinian missile strikes from the Gaza Strip.
####
MOD Peretz: Israel won't tolerate attacks on its citizens.
Source: Defense Minister's Media Advisor
Last night, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Amir Peretz held a special meeting to assess the situation following the serious events in the South.
Participating in the discussion were Deputy Defense Minister Dr. Ephraim Sneh, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gaby Ashkenazi, ISA Director Yuval Diskin, and senior military officers and security officials.
The meeting included intelligence briefings, analysis of the latest developments and a discussion of possible courses of action.
It was concluded at the meeting that yesterday's Hamas rocket barrage is essentially an attempt by the Hamas to shift the responsibility for its own murder of Fatah officers away from itself, in order to channel the internecine Palestinian tension towards Israel.
The Defense Minister said, "Israel cannot tolerate attacks on its citizens. We will do whatever is necessary to protect our sovereignty and to ensure the safety of our citizens. Israel will not be a party to an internal Palestinian power struggle. We will respond vigorously."
At the end of the meeting, operative decisions were made and the Home Front Command was instructed to increase aid to the residents of the city of Sderot and the other communities bordering the Gaza Strip.
####
Press statement by FM Livni in response to Kassams on Sderot
Source: Israel Foreign Ministry - Jerusalem
Israeli civilians are now under ongoing attacks by terrorist organizations
which are part of the Palestinian government headed by Hamas, which is
itself a terrorist organization. Israel views the Palestinian government as
responsible for the situation.
The situation in the last two days is unbearable. It is important to
understand that the Israeli government has shown restraint in the last two
months, but the last two days, in which Israeli civilians are being attacked
on a daily basis with missiles from the Gaza strip - a place that Israel
left in order to give the Palestinians the possibility to create a normal
life and not to attack Israel - this is a situation that should be changed.
The Israeli government will take all the necessary steps in order to give
security to Israeli citizens, and we expect the international community to
demand of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinians to stop this
violence against innocent civilians in Israel.
The army has received instructions to act in accordance with some of the
proposals that were submitted to us. The fact that terrorist organizations
that actually make up part of the government in the Palestinian Authority,
headed by Hamas, are involved in this shooting is a situation that, from
from Israel's standpoint, is intolerable.
We view the Palestinian government itself as responsible. We will act in
order to provide the residents of Sderot with better security. That is our
responsibility as a government and, as you have seen, we are appealing to
the international community in order to highlight the situation in Sderot.
We also want to clarify that, from out standpoint, this is a situation that
cannot continue. We are making it clear to the international community that,
until now, Israel has shown restraint, but for no reason and because of some
internal disagreements in the Palestinian Authority, someone has decided to
strike the residents of Sderot in such a massive and severe manner. This is
something we cannot accept.
I think that every citizen of Israel, and certainly we, as cabinet
ministers, feel the pain of the people of Sderot. We identify with their
feelings, but we also have a responsibility - and our responsibility is not
just to identify with the situation, but also to try to decrease the
quantity and to convey the message to the Palestinian Authority, both
militarily and otherwise, that this situation, from our standpoint, is
intolerable.
We have shown restraint for a lengthy period of time, when the situation was
different from what we have seen in the past few days. We must understand
that no one has a magic solution. We will have to act, and the time period
will be determined by the circumstances.
####
HOW THEY SEE THE STORY
A New Nakba in the Occupied Palestinian Territory: 32 Palestinians Killed and Dozens of Others Wounded in Bloody Internal Fighting in the Gaza Strip
Ref: 28/2007
Date: 17 May 2007
Time: 11:30 GMT
Source: Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
PCHR strongly condemns bloody internal fighting between Fatah and Hamas movements in the Gaza Strip, and calls upon the two sides to calm down the situation and resort to dialogue. PCHR also calls upon the Palestinian National Authority to investigate those clashes and bring all those involved to justice whatever their affiliations are.
Violence escalated to the peak in the past two days, especially in Gaza City, as 32 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others wounded. Thus, the number of Palestinians killed since the beginning of this latest wave of violence on Sunday, 13 May 2007, has mounted to 38, in addition to dozens of others who have been wounded. The casualties have included several civilians, including women and children.
Armed clashes erupted between militants from both movements in various areas in Gaza City, especially the western part, where headquarters of security services, the presidency and cabinet, and houses of a number of leaders of the two movements are located. Palestinian security services, which are divided between the two movements, were also engaged in those clashes. Hundreds of militants deployed in the streets, some them were in military uniforms and others in militia uniforms, and some of them were masked. They closed dozens of the main and branch roads in the city. Militants from the two sides took positions in civilian populated areas and exchanged fire.
They also seized control over a number of high apartment buildings and used them as bases for shooting.
The two movements also carried out mutual kidnappings, most of which ended with firing at the hostages after releasing them. The two sides blatantly demonstrated disregard for the lives of civilians, who stayed at homes voluntarily out of concern for their lives.
PCHR received information that ambulances were not able to reach areas of clashes on time to evacuate the wounded. These actions violates the principles of international humanitarian law, especially those relevant to the protection of civilians, which raises deep concerns, especially as such violations were recorded in previous clashes too.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, the situation exploded after a leader of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas), Ibrahim Suleiman Maniya (Ghanem), 45, was killed by a gunshot to the chest, during an armed clash that erupted at approximately 01:00 on Tuesday, 15 May 2007, between members of the Palestinian National Security Forces and Fatah movement on one side, and those of Hamas on the other side, near al-Mentar (Karni) crossing, east of Gaza City.
Following Maniya's death, the clashes extended to various areas in Gaza City. At approximately 11:00, a vehicle of the Palestinian National Security Forces came under intense gunfire, when it was traveling on the road linking al-Mentar crossing and Juhor al-Dik village, east of Gaza City. The vehicle lost direction and turned over. Ambulances went to the area and evacuated the bodies of 7 members of the Palestinian National Security Forces to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah town. According to medical sources, the victims were hit by gunshots to their heads from close ranges.
The victims were later identified as:
1) Hasan Tawfiq Abu Tahoun, 23, from Deir al-Balah;
2) Wissam 'Abdul Jawad Kassou', 30, from Gaza City;
3) 'Aadel Mohammed Abu 'Amra, 31, from Deir al-Balah;
4) Saif al-Din Salama Abu Erwaish, 28, from al-Zawaida village;
5) Noah 'Abdul Karim al-Louh, 20, from Nusairat refugee camp;
6) Ahmed Haida 'Eyada, 25, from Beit Lahia; and
7) Hani Mohammed al-Ghazali, 23, from Gaza City.
At approximately 21:00 on Wednesday, 15 May 2007, medical sources declared that Karam Baraka Abu Mghassib, 37, a members of the National Security Forces from Deir al-Balah, died from a wound he had sustained on Tuesday near al-Mentar crossing, east of Gaza City.
Palestinian security sources accused militants from the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas of killing these members of the National Security Forces, but the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades issued a statement denying any relation to the attack, and indicating that medical sources asserted that the gunshot were fired by Israeli Occupation Forces.
At approximately 13:00 also on Tuesday, armed clashes erupted between members of the Preventive Security Service (PSS) and those of Hamas near the PSS headquarter in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in the south of Gaza City. As a result, Yousef Hussein Mtair al-Akhras, 22, a PSS member, was killed by a gunshot to the chest.
At approximately 13:30 on the same day, unknown militants kidnapped 'Ali Taha 'Ali Sa'ad, 25, from Jabalya, when he was near the PSS headquarter in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City. Nearly half an hour later, the militants shot him dead with several gunshots after releasing him near Ansar security compound.
At approximately 14:30 also on Tuesday, the body of Ibrahim Tawfiq Abu Ruq'a, 25, from al-Boreij refugee camp, was brought into Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Abu Ruq'a, a taxi driver, was killed by a gunshot to the head when he was traveling near Ansar security compound where armed clashes were taking place.
At approximately 19:00 also on Tuesday, Mohammed Mustafa Abu Saif, 18, was seriously wounded by a gunshot to the head when he was near his house in al-Maqqousi area in the north of Gaza City, as armed clashes took place in the area, where Maher Miqdad, the spokesman of Fatah movement, live. Abu Saif was pronounced dead at midnight.
At approximately 19:30 on the same day, Saleem Shaher Dughmosh, 29, from al-Sabra neighborhood in Gaza City, was killed by a gunshot to the chest, when he was near a brick factory belonging to him in al-Remal neighborhood.
At the same time, militants kidnapped Nahidh Saleh al-Nemer, 46, a member of Hamas, when he was near his house in al-Remal neighborhood in Gaza City. They shot him dead near Haidar 'Abdul Shafi intersection.
At approximately 22:00, 'Essam Mohammed al-Jouju, 22, a member of Hamas, was killed by a gunshot to the back fired by militants in al-Wihda Street in the center of Gaza City.
At approximately 05:00 on Wednesday, 16 May 2007, armed clashes erupted near the house of Major General Rasheed Abu Shibak, Commander of Internal Security and a prominent leader of Fatah movement, in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in the south of Gaza City. Those clashes continued until 07:00, during which 4 of Abu Shibak's bodyguards were killed:
1) Mohammed Saleem Abu 'Amra, 22, from Gaza City, hit by a gunshot to the
chest;
2) 'Abdul Karim 'Arafat al-Masri, 22, from Beit Hanoun, hit by a gunshot
to the chest;
3) 'Abdullah 'Ouda Mohammed Sa'adat, 30, from Beit Hanoun, hit by several
gunshots to the head, the chest and the abdomen; and
4) Ahmed Yousef Hamada, 26, from al-Mughraqa village, hit by a gunshot to
the chest.
In addition, 6 others were wounded.
On Wednesday morning, residents of al-Nour apartment building opposite to the Islamic University were forced to shelter in the basement due to the intense gunfire exchanged between militants of Hamas and Fatah movements.
During those clashes, at approximately 09:00, Hasan Marwan Swaidan, 26, a PSS member from Gaza City, was killed.
At approximately 12:15 also on Wednesday, 2 security men were killed in armed clashes near the PSS headquarter in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in the south of Gaza City:
1) Maher Diab Ahmed Radhi, 37, a PSS member, hit by a gunshot to the back;
and
2) Mohammed Ibrahim Hamad, 22, a policeman, hit by several gunshots
throughout the body.
At approximately 13:00 also on Wednesday, 5 members of the Executive Force of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior were killed in armed clashes in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in the south of Gaza City:
1) Hani Mohammed Saleh Qalaja, 34, hit by shrapnel throughout the body;
2) Hasan Fayez Juha, 32, hit by shrapnel throughout the body;
3) 'Abdul Fattah 'Abdullah Sam'an, 23, hit by several gunshots throughout
the body;
4) Mo'men Ahmed al-Dairi, 23, hit by several gunshots throughout the body;
and
5) Mohammed Anwar al-Tash, 20, hit by several gunshots throughout the
body.
At approximately 14:30 also on Wednesday, armed clashes erupted neat al-Salah apartment building in Mustafa Hafez Street in the south of Gaza City, where a number of leaders of Fatah movement, including Yousef 'Eissa, Chief of the PSS, live. As a result, fire broke out in one of the floors of the building, but no casualties were reported.
At approximately 19:00 on the same day, Mohammed Ahmed Shihda al-Dalu, 27, a member of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, was killed during armed clashes in 'Omar al-Mukhtar Street in the center of Gaza City.
At the same time, armed clashes erupted near Shawa and Hussari apartment building, which includes several press offices, in al-Wihda Street in Gaza City, when a number of Hamas militants attempted to seize control over the roof of the building. The clashes extended to the neighboring al-Jawahara apartment building, which also includes a number of press offices and whose roof was controlled by Fatah militants. Several journalists were trapped in their offices, especially offices of al-Jazeera Stellite Channel and Ramattan News Agenct, for more than two hours, and their lives were endangered.
Hamas declared a unilateral ceasefire at 20:00 on Wednesday, and invited Fatah movements through the media to initiate dialogue. Nevertheless, armed clashes were resumed between the two sides at approximately 21:30 in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City. As a result, Sa'id Tayseer Abu 'Amru, 24, a member of the Presidential Guard from al-Shojaeya neighborhood, was killed by a gunshot to the neck.
Also at approximately 21:30 on Wednesday, unknown militants traveling in a civilian car fired at 3 members of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades who were walking near the building of the Municipality of Rafah. As a result, Mohammed 'Abdullah Hassanain, 29, was killed by a gunshot to the head.
At approximately 00:30 on Thursday, 17 May 2007, armed clashes erupted between militants from Hamas and Fatah movements near the building of the directorate of education in al-Wihda Street in Gaza City. As a result of these clashes, Mahmoud Ramadan al-Bayedh, 23, a member of Hamas from al-Daraj neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, was killed by several gunshots to the abdomen and the feet.
PCHR reiterates its condemnation for these bloody clashes, and:
1) Calls upon the Palestinian National Authority, represented by the President and the government, to immediately take effective measures to restore security and stability in the Gaza Strip, and protect civilians from the dangers posed on them by such bloody and shameful conflict.
2) Calls for conducting effective investigations into such clashes and bring those involved in them, whatever their affiliations area, to justice.
3) Calls for the demilitarization of streets, intersections and populated areas, including the withdrawal of security services and militias, whose continuous presence poses threats to the lives of innocent civilians.
4) Calls upon all political factions and civil society groups to act to stop such shameful conflict over authority, whose price is paid by every Palestinian and the whole Palestinian cause.
5) Reminds that these clashes coincides with the 59th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba (the uprooting of the Palestinian people from their homeland); instead of using this occasion to intensify efforts to end the Israeli occupation and realize the Palestinian legitimate rights, the two main political powers in the Palestinian arena are engaged in regrettable fighting, which in fact a form of self-destruction.
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