Special report: Israel launches Gaza
assault
A policeman asks the crowd to leave the scene after a Kassam rocket landed in Ashkelon, coastal city of Israel on July 5, 2006. The second Kassam rocket fired from the northern Gaza Strip landed in Ashkelon on Wednesday within two days and eight people suffering from shock were sent to local hospital.(Xinhua Photo) |
JERUSALEM, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Senior Israeli officials said on Thursday
that an Israeli ground offensive into northern Gaza Strip was an act of defense
against Palestinian rocket firing.
"Our presence there doesn't mean that we intend to
remain in the Gaza Strip. We simply want to prevent firing at our towns,"
Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer told Army Radio.
David Baker, an official of the Prime Minister's
Office, also defended the operation in the strip as an act with the aim of
removing Palestinian rocket threat.
Meanwhile, army spokesman Jacob Dallal said that the
operation was a limited incursion in a bid to ensure the release of an abducted
Israeli soldier and stop rocket fire into Israel.
The Israeli army expanded its ground operation into
northern Gaza Strip early Thursday by sending 15 tanks into the former
settlements of Nissanit, Dugit and Elei Sinai.
As ground forces edged forward, Israeli artillery and
airstrikes also struck Palestinian militant bases and groups in northern Gaza
Strip.
Three Palestinians, including a Hamas activist, were
killed and eight others wounded in an airstrike early Thursday.
After Qassam rocket for the first time hit the
southern coastalcity of Ashkelon Tuesday evening, Israeli political-security
cabinet approved on Wednesday to step up operations in Gaza.
"We won't sink in the Gaza swamp, but
will enter any necessary area to carry out
our missions," Defense Minister Amir Peretz said on Wednesday. Enditem
An Israeli self-propelled howitzer is seen at the northern border of Gaza Strip, July 5，2006. (Xinhua Photo) |
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
