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Last update - 20:03 13/11/2008
Qassams strike near southern towns of Ashkelon and Netivot
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies
Tags: IDF hamas, Israel news 

Qassam rockets fired by Gaza militants hit near Ashkelon and Netivot on Thursday, widening the scope of cross-border violence that has threatened to unravel a shaky Israel-Hamas truce.

The rocket that struck Ashkelon hit an open area near the southern town. No one was wounded and no property damage was caused in the attacks.

Earlier Thursday, The Israel Defense Forces announced it would delay the
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eplacement of its top Gaza commander due to recently the increased tensions on the border.

Brigadier-General Moshe (Chico) Tamir was scheduled to be replaced by Brigadier-General Eyal Eisenberg on Friday, but a military official announced that the prior's term has been extended until further notice.

Early Thursday, Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired at least five mortar shells and one Qassam rocket at the western Negev, Army Radio reported. The barrage came after Hamas threatened to avenge the shooting deaths of four of its members a day earlier on the Israel-Gaza border.

The incident began when soldiers from the IDF Paratroopers Brigade spotted the group of Palestinians moving toward the border fence near the central Gaza town of Khan Yunis.

The troops subsequently opened fire on the militants, whom the IDF said were trying to lay an explosive device near the fence.

Duing an ensuing gunbattle, a number of mortar shells were fired at the IDF troops and an explosive device was detonated, according to the army.

One IDF soldier sustained a light wound to his hand, and was taken for treatment to the Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva.

Palestinian Health Ministry official Dr. Moawiya Hassanain said ambulances later retrieved the bodies of four Hamas militants from the area of fighting. They were identified as Mahmoud Siam, Rami Farina, Mohsen al-Kudra and Ismail Abu al-Allah.

The IDF said various weapons and grenades were found on their bodies.

Hamas' military wing threatened retaliation, and within hours of the incident on Wednesday, at least six shells and two rockets exploded in the Negev. There were no injuries or damages in any of the incidents.

"The anger of our people and our resistance will reach everybody, God willing, and our response to the enemy will be painful, and will spill the Zionists' blood," the wing's spokesman, Abu Obeida, said in a statement following the gunbattle.

IDF turns to new 'security parameter' tactics

Defense sources told Haaretz on Wednesday that the army is now authorized to act within what the IDF calls the "security parameter" - a several-hundred-meter strip beyond the border fence. The troops are allowed to act only against clear threats and with the approval of a senior commander.

The fragile five-month truce began to unravel on November 4 when IDF paratroopers killed six Hamas gunmen after discovering a tunnel close to the Kisufim roadblock. Since then IDF forces have crossed the border at least twice to dismantle explosives or strike militants who tried to plant bombs near the fence.

Until last week's operation, the IDF refrained from offensive action to neutralize threats.


Related articles:
  • Mortars and rockets hit Negev after deadly IDF raid near Gaza
  • Israel to allow limited amount of fuel and aid into Gaza on Thursday
  • Quiet resumes on Gaza border, despite unrest 'under surface'
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    A ringing endorsement
    Jimmy Carter says Obama will waste no time in pursuing Middle East peace.
    Peres' olive branch
    Israel's president says the Arab peace plan is an opening for progress.
      1.   Reinstill the cease-fire. 08:25  |  Tzfonit 13/11/08
      2.   4 losers sent to their death 08:26  |  don 13/11/08
      3.   Blame on people of Gaza 08:47  |  Shyil Israel 13/11/08
      4.   Tzfonit the NOVICE- You did not do Military Service 10:01  |  rACHEL 13/11/08
      5.   This ins`t a cycle of violence 10:22  |  Zion 13/11/08
      6.   God willing? 10:51  |  Inshallah 13/11/08
      7.   Tzfonit Whilst usually agreeing with your sentiments 11:15  |  Ari ben Yisrael 13/11/08
      8.   This will not stop our efforts to rebuild the Temple 11:17  |  Censor this. 13/11/08
      9.   Rachel, there`s one thing I know for sure 11:27  |  Tzfonit 13/11/08
      10.   Proper response. 11:28  |  Charles Smyth 13/11/08
      11.   Tzfonit think a moment 13:23  |  x-ray 13/11/08
      12.   Ari Ben Yisrael, checking the tunnels 13:38  |  Tzfonit 13/11/08
      13.   Israeli Reservists complaining of lack of food ands wate4r 14:25  |  Dagma 13/11/08
      14.   Israeli Reservists complain of lack of food and water 14:50  |  Dagma 13/11/08
      15.   Do you mean "Security Perimeter"? 15:06  |  Micah 13/11/08
      16.   UN take the food through Egypt. 15:06  |  lily 13/11/08
      17.   Why not just blow up the tunnels 15:07  |  charlie 13/11/08
      18.   what`s obvious to most 15:26  |  rm 13/11/08
      19.   ambulances later retrieved the bodies of four Hamas militant 18:19  |  vik 13/11/08
      20.   Tzfonit, have you thought of the possibility that the tunel 18:41  |  Emanuel 13/11/08
      21.   Halt the Qassams launched at the western Negev. 18:46  |  Jean Van Daem 13/11/08
      22.   Tzfonit: dream on, please 18:59  |  Richard S 13/11/08
      23.   Who broke this ceasefire? 19:16  |  Marty Green 13/11/08
      24.   Tzfonit. You`re making the same points I did last week. 19:25  |  Michael 13/11/08
      25.   inshallah indeed 19:27  |  Espart 13/11/08
      26.   Why Israel cannot hold back its actions. 19:28  |  Proud Israeli 13/11/08
      27.   Smyth- Israel doesn`t target civilians 19:29  |  cleva treva 13/11/08
      28.   Tunnel threat 19:31  |  John 13/11/08
      29.   If the troops need food I`m sure the generous Gazans will supply 19:45  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 13/11/08
      30.   No food to Gaza 19:48  |  Barbara Perry 13/11/08
      31.   Trying again: Perhaps the Gazans will return the favour Dagma 21:15  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 13/11/08
      32.   The corssings in and out of the Gaza Strip must remain closed, 21:32  |  Ori & Hedva Farkash 13/11/08
      33.   The Inevitable....peace on the horizon and.... 22:18  |  Palestinian Brit 13/11/08
      34.   Very confusing front page stuff 22:57  |  Uri 13/11/08
      35.   It is time to defend Israel 23:25  |  Brod 13/11/08
      36.   Time to defend 00:32  |  Brod 14/11/08
      37.   What Truce ? 01:03  |  Gary 14/11/08
      38.   but the "regi`ah" is still in effect! What a joke! 12:50  |  Yaakov K. 14/11/08
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