Seraphim
05-25-2004, 03:15 PM
JERUSALEM - An Israeli military vehicle drove over an explosive on a road linking Israel and the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, Israeli security officials said. There are no reports on casualties.
Late Monday Israel pulled its forces out of the Rafah refugee camp in the Gaza strip in what it is calling a "pause" in operations.
Operation Rainbow was launched after 13 Israeli troops were killed in two separate explosions in Gaza.
Israel said the six-day old incursion has been targeting militants and tunnels being used to smuggle arms. Israeli troops pulled out before completing the sweep of the tunnels.
The move has drawn criticism in Israel that the military has little to show for a weeklong offensive that drew condemnation around the world.
Reports on the numbers of damaged buildings vary widely because the areas of demolition are scattered throughout the camp.
Israeli security officials said 40 Palestinian militants were killed in the operation. According to hospital doctors, 45 Palestinians were killed, including 17 gunmen and a dozen children under 16 years old.
The Israeli army said 46 structures that it believed were being used by militants were destroyed. But the United Nations said Israel destroyed as many as 180 buildings and left 1,000 Palestinians homeless.
The UN Relief and Works Agency described the past month as one of the most destructive in Rafah since the Palestinian uprising began in September 2000.
Next week the Israeli cabinet is scheduled to vote on a Gaza withdrawal. Prime Minster Ariel Sharon has been struggling to secure a majority. Vice Premier Ehud Olmert said a one-vote majority is emerging in the divided cabinet.
Earlier this month the Likud Party rejected a Gaza pullout.
Late Monday Israel pulled its forces out of the Rafah refugee camp in the Gaza strip in what it is calling a "pause" in operations.
Operation Rainbow was launched after 13 Israeli troops were killed in two separate explosions in Gaza.
Israel said the six-day old incursion has been targeting militants and tunnels being used to smuggle arms. Israeli troops pulled out before completing the sweep of the tunnels.
The move has drawn criticism in Israel that the military has little to show for a weeklong offensive that drew condemnation around the world.
Reports on the numbers of damaged buildings vary widely because the areas of demolition are scattered throughout the camp.
Israeli security officials said 40 Palestinian militants were killed in the operation. According to hospital doctors, 45 Palestinians were killed, including 17 gunmen and a dozen children under 16 years old.
The Israeli army said 46 structures that it believed were being used by militants were destroyed. But the United Nations said Israel destroyed as many as 180 buildings and left 1,000 Palestinians homeless.
The UN Relief and Works Agency described the past month as one of the most destructive in Rafah since the Palestinian uprising began in September 2000.
Next week the Israeli cabinet is scheduled to vote on a Gaza withdrawal. Prime Minster Ariel Sharon has been struggling to secure a majority. Vice Premier Ehud Olmert said a one-vote majority is emerging in the divided cabinet.
Earlier this month the Likud Party rejected a Gaza pullout.