Free Republic

IAF targets included a Hamas tunnel and military facilities. he Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck six Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip on Saturday evening in response to the detonation of an explosive device on the Gaza border earlier in the day that wounded four IDF soldiers, two severely. Targets included a Hamas-built terror tunnel from the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza towards Israeli territory, a Hamas military facility in Netzarim and a further military facility in the Khan Younis neighborhood. Earlier Saturday, two IDF soldiers were severely wounded and two others moderately and lightly wounded after the device was detonated...

GAZA CITY Palestinians surged triumphantly into demolished Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip early today, torching empty synagogues and firing shots into the air, as the last Israeli soldiers withdrew after 38 years of occupation. The troops' departure marked the final step in the government's decision to leave Gaza, which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East War, and opened an era laden with uncertainty for the coastal enclave's 1.3 million Palestinian residents. Having evacuated about 8,500 Jewish settlers last month and overseen the razing of their homes, the 3,000 Israeli soldiers moved out before sunrise in convoys of tanks...

Gush Katif and parts of Shomron, Israel, are slated for a unilateral withdrawal by the Israeli government within a few months. Not only are they removing military protection, the government also claims to expel all the Jews living in those areas, at least 8500 souls in Gush Katif (Gaza.) I toured those areas a few days ago, visiting 6 towns in Gush Katif and 2 in Shomron, all condemned by their government. These are built-up, well-established towns, with over 1000 acres of hothouses, many factories, and spacious modern houses (not huts as some imply.) I have assembled a photo essay...

The first thing that comes up when you google Mohammed al-Durra's name is a poem written by Sheikh Mohammed of the United Arab Emirates called "To the soul of the child martyr." It gives an idea of the mythical proportions that the young boy has assumed in the Middle East. The images of Mohammed al-Durra hiding from Israeli fire behind his father's back in the early days of the second intifada, only to be struck down by enemy bullets, shocked the whole world. For many Arabs and Muslims, the boy became the symbol of Palestinian suffering under Israeli occupation.

Israel Defense Forces soldiers killed at least two gunmen in the pre-dawn hours Monday as the Palestinians sought to attack the Gaza Strip flashpoint settlement of Netzarim, military sources said. The foiled attack coincided with the last day of the Passover week, observed as a festival day. A third gunmen may have been critically wounded or killed in the incident, military sources said, describing the assault as relatively sophisticated. According to an IDF investigation, eight terrorists were involved in the infiltration attempt, Army Radio reported. Major Shai Shemesh, an army commander in the area, called the operation "complex." Hamas, Islamic...

Nov. 4, 2003 Shinui to formally propose evacuating Netzarim By ASSOCIATED PRESS JERUSALEM (1) Two Israeli soldiers comfort each other after the bodies of three of their comrades were taken away at the Netzarim Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip. (2) Justice Minister Tommy Lapid and (3) Interior Minister Avraham Poraz Photo: AP Shinui, the second largest party in the coalition, proposes dismantling a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip and halting targeted killings of Palestinian terrorists to revive peace talks, a spokesman said Tuesday. The proposal by the moderate Shinui party, to be formally presented next week, would be...

Ignoring Jewish Humanity by Bruce S. Ticker Oct 31, '03 / 5 Cheshvan 5764 On Saturday, I learned of the Israeli soldiers who were murdered in their sleep in Gaza, where they were stationed to protect their fellow Jews. Two of them were 19-year-old women and the other a 20-year-old man. I saw a photo of one victim and thought how cute she was. If she lived in America, she probably would have been sleeping in her college dorm room. On a given Saturday night, she might be dating her future husband and father of her children instead of...

Last Update: 27/10/2003 21:25 Annan: Israeli destruction of Gaza towers illegal By Reuters UNITED NATIONS – United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan accused Israel on Monday of violating international law in destroying three Gaza apartment towers and urged it to end actions making a Middle East peace deal harder to reach. "The secretary-general reminds the Israeli authorities that house demolitions amount to collective punishment, which is a clear violation of international humanitarian law," a UN spokesman said. "During the past month, some 200 buildings in the Gaza Strip were destroyed, rendering more than 2,000 people homeless. In this connection, he deplores...

Defense/Security The 13-Story Buildings Were Not Occupied 09:24 Oct 26, '03 / 30 Tishrei 5764 Contrary to PA claims, the buildings destroyed last night by the IDF, and which the PA built in order to spy on Israeli positions, were not occupied. The photo by Moti Sender shows the buildings towering over Netzarim as they appeared until 2:45 this morning. The IDF took extensive action against terrorist targets in Gaza last night, following the Palestinian terror attack that killed three soldiers on Friday morning. Within hours after the fatal Friday attack, the army began warning Arab residents living near Netzarim...

Following murderous attack, debate heats up over future of isolated Netzarim By Ellis Shuman October 26, 2003 An Israeli soldier on patrol at Netzarim in the central Gaza Strip. (AFP) Following a Palestinian terrorist's infiltration on Friday into an army base in Netzarim, killing three Israeli soldiers and wounding two others, left-wing politicians called for an immediate withdrawal from the isolated settlement. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says any evacuation of Netzarim "under fire" would only encourage terrorism. The army is also checking why soldiers failed to detect and prevent the attack. The funeral of Sgt. Adi Osman, 19, from...

A Palestinian terrorist infiltrated the community of Netzarim in Gaza early this morning, spraying gunfire and grenades at Israeli soldiers' caravans. Three soldiers were killed and two others were wounded. The attack began at 4:15 AM when, under the cover of darkness, heavy fog and diversionary tactics, a Hamas terrorist from nearby Jebalya snuck through the town's outer electronic security fence. At the same time, gunfire was directed at other soldiers elsewhere in the area of Netzarim, occupying their attention. Army Radio reported that the terrorist appeared to be familiar with the area, knowing where the army offices and caravans...

(IsraelNN.com) There are preliminary reports of a terrorist infiltration into the Gaza community of Netzarim. There are unconfirmed reports of injuries. Details to follow as they become available.

Shell Hits Netzarim Homes, No Injuries An Arab-fired mortar shell hit the central Gaza community of Netzarim last night, resulting in damage to several homes but no injuries. One of the homes belongs to a nephew of Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal, whose city has been targeted in several PA rocket attacks over the past week. Gush Katif spokesman Eran Sternberg decried the lack of an IDF response to the attack, saying, "Prime Minister Sharon's deafening silence about the attack in Netzarim contradicts the laws of nature regarding the color of members of the same family." Yesha Council head Bentzy Lieberman...

Two Palestinian boys aged eight and 13 armed with knives were captured Saturday night after infiltrating Netzarim in the northern Gaza Strip in an attempted terror attack. The two tried to stab the son of one of the residents, but the boy succeeded in evading them and alerted his father, who opened fire after seeing their knives, causing them to flee. One of the Palestinians then fled into the house of Rabbi Zion Tawill, who also drove him off by shooting at him. The youth then spotted another resident and told him he was a Thai worker. He was invited...