GAZA, Feb. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli forces stationed at the borders between northern Gaza and Israel continued firing artillery shells at northern and eastern Gaza on Monday, Palestinian witnesses said.

    The Israeli artillery bombed Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza and the neighborhood of al-Shijaia in eastern Gaza overnight, the witnesses said.

    Former Israeli chief of Shaback apparatus (Israeli Intelligence)Avi Dechter said in a press statement that the artillery shells were fired at the launching sites of Qassam rockets in the Gaza Strip.

    He warned more operations, including military invasions into the Gaza Strip, would follow if the shelling and air strikes failed to stop the rocket attacks.

    Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz also said he would intensify the army's practices against the Palestinian militants throughout the Palestinian territories.

    Meanwhile, Palestinian security sources said the Israeli forces stormed the West Bank area early Monday and arrested 26 wanted Palestinian militants there.

    Israeli troops raided the old town of the West Bank city of Nablus and two refugee camps of Balata and Askar in the city,arresting at least eight Palestinians suspected of being affiliated to Palestinian armed groups, the sources said.

    The rest of the detained Palestinians were apprehended in other West Bank cities of Jenin, Ramallah and Bethlehem, according to the sources. Enditem