Sayeret
07-02-2004, 06:23 PM
Soldiers from the IDF's Shimshon Battalion, who had set up an ambush Thursday in a Palestinian house near the Netzarim Junction, spotted three gunmen approaching and opened fire. One of the Palestinians was killed immediately. Other armed Palestinians arrived at the scene and began shooting at the house.
According to one report, the Palestinian gunmen actually entered the house during the course of the gun battle. The soldiers were joined in the battle by armored forces and an IAF helicopter also fired missiles. Four additional gunmen were killed and three Palestinians were arrested. There were no casualties to Israeli troops.
Initial reports suggested that the terror cell had planned to infiltrate into Netzarim, but security officials later said it appeared that the gunmen had planned to attack vehicles traveling along the Karni-Netzarim highway.
Meanwhile, IDF troops continued Operation Front Shield in the Beit Hanoun area, aimed at preventing Kassam rocket launches at Israeli targets. Hamas member Ismail Nabhan, 30, was shot and killed by Israeli forces before dawn.
On Thursday afternoon, an IAF helicopter fired a missile at a group of Palestinians after troops had identified a terrorist planting an explosive device. Palestinian sources said that 7 people sustained light to moderate injuries in the attack. A short while later, the helicopter fired a second missile at a terrorist target.
An IDF vehicle was damaged when a bomb detonated underneath it in the Beit Hanoun area, ynet reported.
The army has set up a "security zone" around Beit Hanoun but has refrained from entering the town in order to reduce friction with the Palestinian population.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz toured northern Gaza on Thursday and said the army would remain there as long as necessary to prevent Kassam rocket launches.
Troops operating in the Brazil neighborhood of the Rafiah refugee camp discovered, inside a Palestinian shop, the entrance of a tunnel used for weapons smuggling.
Palestinian gunmen opened fire at the IDF forces operating in the camp. A Palestinian boy, 9, was reportedly killed in the crossfire.
The army also launched a rare, wide-scale operation in Jericho on Thursday, due to reports that Palestinian fugitives had taken refuge in the town. Some 30 terror suspects were arrested, including A-Fatah Mussa Dola, a wanted Tanzim operative who was reportedly involved with the murder of Ofir Nahum in January 2001.
During the Jericho raid, the IDF captured Kalashnikov rifles, pistols, 14 hand grenades, an IDF uniform, bulletproof vests and communication devices.
According to one report, the Palestinian gunmen actually entered the house during the course of the gun battle. The soldiers were joined in the battle by armored forces and an IAF helicopter also fired missiles. Four additional gunmen were killed and three Palestinians were arrested. There were no casualties to Israeli troops.
Initial reports suggested that the terror cell had planned to infiltrate into Netzarim, but security officials later said it appeared that the gunmen had planned to attack vehicles traveling along the Karni-Netzarim highway.
Meanwhile, IDF troops continued Operation Front Shield in the Beit Hanoun area, aimed at preventing Kassam rocket launches at Israeli targets. Hamas member Ismail Nabhan, 30, was shot and killed by Israeli forces before dawn.
On Thursday afternoon, an IAF helicopter fired a missile at a group of Palestinians after troops had identified a terrorist planting an explosive device. Palestinian sources said that 7 people sustained light to moderate injuries in the attack. A short while later, the helicopter fired a second missile at a terrorist target.
An IDF vehicle was damaged when a bomb detonated underneath it in the Beit Hanoun area, ynet reported.
The army has set up a "security zone" around Beit Hanoun but has refrained from entering the town in order to reduce friction with the Palestinian population.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz toured northern Gaza on Thursday and said the army would remain there as long as necessary to prevent Kassam rocket launches.
Troops operating in the Brazil neighborhood of the Rafiah refugee camp discovered, inside a Palestinian shop, the entrance of a tunnel used for weapons smuggling.
Palestinian gunmen opened fire at the IDF forces operating in the camp. A Palestinian boy, 9, was reportedly killed in the crossfire.
The army also launched a rare, wide-scale operation in Jericho on Thursday, due to reports that Palestinian fugitives had taken refuge in the town. Some 30 terror suspects were arrested, including A-Fatah Mussa Dola, a wanted Tanzim operative who was reportedly involved with the murder of Ofir Nahum in January 2001.
During the Jericho raid, the IDF captured Kalashnikov rifles, pistols, 14 hand grenades, an IDF uniform, bulletproof vests and communication devices.