Special report: Israel launches Gaza assault

    JERUSALEM, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli soldier was killed when conducting an operation in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokeswoman told Xinhua.

A Israeli soldier seen on the border with the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun at a staging point near Kibbutz Mefalsim, Israel, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    The spokeswoman said that the IDF troops who have been conducting a large scale operation in Gaza since predawn Wednesday encountered fierce enemy fires from the Palestinian militants.  

    He said that during the gunbattle with the Palestinian militants, an Israeli soldier sustained badly wounds from gunshot by Palestinian gunmen and was evacuated for medical treatment.  

    However, the soldier died shortly afterwards of his wounds,said the spokesman.

    He added that the gunbattle is still going on in the area.  

    Earlier in the day, another IDF spokesman confirmed to Xinhua that the IDF launched a fresh round of large-scale military operation in Beit Hanoun town in northern Gaza Stripe.  

    He said that the operation is aimed at stemming the Qassam rockets attacks against Israel from the area, citing that during the past three months, more than 300 Qassam rockets have been launched from the area.

    Meanwhile, Palestinian security sources also said that six Palestinians, including one security officer and five militants,were killed and 25 others wounded by Israeli rockets and shells fragments in the predawn raid.

    Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday said that Israel would expand military offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza.  

    However, Israeli security cabinet decided on Wednesday noon not to expand military operations in Gaza but maintain it at the current level.

    The cabinet's decision reflected statements made by Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz on Wednesday morning that the IDF would keep up its recent activity in the Gaza Strip, but would target terrorist infrastructure only. 

Israeli soldiers seen on the border with the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun at a staging point near Kibbutz Mefalsim, Israel, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

A convoy of Israeli army armoured vehicles stop before moving into northern Gaza Strip November 1, 2006. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery >>>