Israel kills 13 Palestinians in big Gaza raid

RAFAH, Gaza Strip – Israeli forces killed 13 Palestinians yesterday in the biggest raid on the Gaza Strip for years as tanks and infantry thrust into a militant stronghold despite an international outcry.

The assault on the Rafah refugee camp, by one of the largest Israeli forces in action since the start of a Palestinian uprising in 2 000, drew condemnation because of threats to destroy hundreds of Palestinian homes in the occupied territory. But the army said there were no plans for any systematic demolition during what it called an open-ended operation to stop the smuggling of weapons through tunnels from Egypt.”When the fighting is over, most of the residents will almost certainly return to their homes,” said Colonel Pinky Zuaretz, a field commander.Under cover of darkness, troops fanned out into Rafah’s Tel al-Sultan neighbourhood, taking vantage points in bullet-pocked buildings as soldiers searched house-to-house for militants and fought Palestinian gunmen.Israel had amassed more forces in Gaza since capturing it in the 1967 Middle East war, commentators said, for a raid launched after militants killed 13 soldiers there last week and dealt the army its biggest blow for two years.”We are afraid,” said Miriam Abu Jazzar, surveying the blood-stained ruins of her daughter’s home, smashed by a missile.”Every hour there is shooting.”Helicopter gunships killed seven Palestinians, at least three of them gunmen.The identities of the others were unclear.Palestinian witnesses said the four had gathered for pre-dawn prayers at a mosque set ablaze by the missile strike.Israeli military officials said missiles hit a band of gunmen.Six Palestinians, at least one of them a gunman, were killed in street fighting, medics said.About 20 people were wounded in the air attacks and street fighting of “Operation Rainbow”.”We will die and they will die, but we are Muslims and we go to heaven.They will go to the fires of hell,” said 30-year-old Palestinian policeman Ashraf al-Jamal.Palestinians fired rockets and set off hidden bombs in the cinderblock camp of 90 000 people, a hotbed of militants who attack soldiers patrolling the Egyptian border.Hundreds of civilians bundled away belongings on donkey carts, fearing their houses would be destroyed.The army said three buildings were demolished yesterday.The European Union condemned the raid, which was also criticised by the United Nations over fears it could make thousands homeless.Israel’s US ally said it was concerned.”We call upon the whole world to immediately intervene to block Israel’s military escalation,” said Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat.Bloodshed has surged in Gaza since Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon proposed evacuating troops and Jewish settlers in a plan backed by most Israelis and the United States, though held up by opposition from ruling party hardliners.Militants want to claim as a victory any Israeli pullout, while the army is determined to smash militant groups first.As yesterday’s operation got under way, a Palestinian fighter was killed in an accident preparing a bomb in his house.”Rafah has become a gateway for terror through which rocket propelled grenades and other weapons have passed,” said army chief Moshe Yaalon.”After we tried (unsuccessfully) to persuade the Palestinian authorities to stop this activity, we were forced to prevent this ourselves.”Yaalon said on Sunday hundreds of houses would be demolished to keep forces in the border zone safe from gunmen and thwart tunnel-digging.The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) set up tents to take in 1 500 displaced people.Israeli troops also killed two militants in separate incidents in the West Bank yesterday.- Nampa-ReutersBut the army said there were no plans for any systematic demolition during what it called an open-ended operation to stop the smuggling of weapons through tunnels from Egypt.”When the fighting is over, most of the residents will almost certainly return to their homes,” said Colonel Pinky Zuaretz, a field commander.Under cover of darkness, troops fanned out into Rafah’s Tel al-Sultan neighbourhood, taking vantage points in bullet-pocked buildings as soldiers searched house-to-house for militants and fought Palestinian gunmen.Israel had amassed more forces in Gaza since capturing it in the 1967 Middle East war, commentators said, for a raid launched after militants killed 13 soldiers there last week and dealt the army its biggest blow for two years.”We are afraid,” said Miriam Abu Jazzar, surveying the blood-stained ruins of her daughter’s home, smashed by a missile.”Every hour there is shooting.”Helicopter gunships killed seven Palestinians, at least three of them gunmen.The identities of the others were unclear.Palestinian witnesses said the four had gathered for pre-dawn prayers at a mosque set ablaze by the missile strike.Israeli military officials said missiles hit a band of gunmen.Six Palestinians, at least one of them a gunman, were killed in street fighting, medics said.About 20 people were wounded in the air attacks and street fighting of “Operation Rainbow”.”We will die and they will die, but we are Muslims and we go to heaven.They will go to the fires of hell,” said 30-year-old Palestinian policeman Ashraf al-Jamal.Palestinians fired rockets and set off hidden bombs in the cinderblock camp of 90 000 people, a hotbed of militants who attack soldiers patrolling the Egyptian border.Hundreds of civilians bundled away belongings on donkey carts, fearing their houses would be destroyed.The army said three buildings were demolished yesterday.The European Union condemned the raid, which was also criticised by the United Nations over fears it could make thousands homeless.Israel’s US ally said it was concerned.”We call upon the whole world to immediately intervene to block Israel’s military escalation,” said Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat.Bloodshed has surged in Gaza since Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon proposed evacuating troops and Jewish settlers in a plan backed by most Israelis and the United States, though held up by opposition from ruling party hardliners.Militants want to claim as a victory any Israeli pullout, while the army is determined to smash militant groups first.As yesterday’s operation got under way, a Palestinian fighter was killed in an accident preparing a bomb in his house.”Rafah has become a gateway for terror through which rocket propelled grenades and other weapons have passed,” said army chief Moshe Yaalon.”After we tried (unsuccessfully) to persuade the Palestinian authorities to stop this activity, we were forced to prevent this ourselves.”Yaalon said on Sunday hundreds of houses would be demolished to keep forces in the border zone safe from gunmen and thwart tunnel-digging.The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) set up tents to take in 1 500 displaced people.Israeli troops also killed two militants in separate incidents in the West Bank yesterday.- Nampa-Reuters