Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., January 13, 2009 Tevet 17, 5769 | | Israel Time: 00:45 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 02:11 12/01/2009
IAF bombs dozens of smuggling tunnels in southern Gaza Strip
By Haaretz Service and News Agencies
Tags: Israel News, Hamas, Gaza 

The Israel Air Force on Sunday bombed dozens of smuggling tunnels along the Philadelphi Route, along the Gaza Strip's border with Egypt.

Earlier Sunday, Israel Defense Forces soldiers advanced into a suburb of the densely-populated Gaza City, as Israel pressed on with its offensive against Hamas in the coastal strip.


Advertisement
Palestinian medical officials said at least 21 Palestinians were killed in fighting by midday on Sunday.

The location of the ground fighting, on the southwest side of the Hamas-ruled territory's biggest population center, suggested Israel was intensifying a more than two-week-old offensive. Troops had previously kept to the outskirts of urban areas in Gaza.

Hamas and the smaller militant group Islamic Jihad claimed they ambushed the IDF troops in the city's Sheikh Ajleen neighborhood. It appeared to be one of the fiercest land battles since Israel sent ground forces into Gaza on Jan. 3.

At least 14 people were killed in and around Sheikh Ajleen, Palestinian health officials said. It was not immediately clear how many of the fatalities were militants and how many werecivilians. There was no word of Israeli casualties.

Witnesses said earlier that Hamas militants fired anti-tank missiles and mortar bombs at advancing Israeli forces who responded with tank shells and air strikes.

Also Sunday, the sixteenth day of Operation Cast Lead, an Israel Air Force strike targeting a car on a coastal road killed two militants, according to medical workers.

IAF attacks 60 targets across Gaza

IAF aircraft attacked over 60 targets throughout the Gaza Strip, including a mosque in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The building was used for storing weaponry such as machine guns and sophisticated anti air-craft missiles, the army said.

The mosque was also reportedly used as a training camp and a gathering place for Hamas militants.

Overnight, IDF Infantry, tanks, combat engineers, artillery, and intelligence, continued to operate against Hamas targets throughout the Gaza Strip, according to the army.

Ground forces were involved in a number of incidents in which several armed gunmen were hit.

Sunday's battles came after a senior Israeli military commander involved in the Gaza operation said on Saturday that Hamas militants are suffering from exhaustion and are deserting battle.

The IAF also targeted on Sunday the home of Ahmed Jabri, the head of Hamas' military wing, according to the army.

Meanwhile, Palestinian medical workers said IDF artillery shelling of two villages in southern Gaza killed a Palestinian woman and set 15 houses
on fire. Some 50 people are treated for burns and gas inhalation, they said.

Gaza medical personnel also said an Israeli tank fire killed five Palestinians, at least four of them civilians, in the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday.

They identified the dead from the incident in Beit Lahiya as a man and
four women from two different families.

The Hamas-run Health Ministry has put the death toll in Gaza in the Israeli campaign at 846. Thirteen Israelis have been killed in the fighting, 10 soldiers, and three civilians killed by Hamas rocket fire.


Related articles:
  • Security cabinet: Israel to continue Gaza offensive to pressure Egypt
  • Israel disappointed by UN resolution that avoids key demands on Gaza
  • ANALYSIS / Synching IDF and government over Gaza
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    From the bunker
    Hamas says Gaza won't break, victory over Israel is near.
    Banned
    Israel bans Arab parties from running in upcoming elections.
      1.   Sophisticated anti aircraft missiles? Yeah right 09:27  |  Ben 11/01/09
      2.   Bombs in a Clothes Closet 09:39  |  Steve 11/01/09
      3.   Please View Before Judging! An Arab Perspective. 10:50  |  View This 11/01/09
      4.   The Need for a Beating 10:50  |  Lindon Richards 11/01/09
      5.   Hamas are Cowards 10:57  |  Marco 11/01/09
      6.   Ben, you`re mistaken 10:59  |  Richard 11/01/09
      7.   #2 Such nonsense, Steve 11:01  |  Johnboy 11/01/09
      8.   Israel has lost the propaganda war 11:11  |  mike 11/01/09
      9.   I CAN`T WAIT 14:27  |  indrajaya 11/01/09
      10.   Entitlement (#7) 16:30  |  Steve 11/01/09
      11.   #7 Ignorant 16:33  |  Jakeboy 11/01/09
      12.   RE: Mike, don`t worry about propaganda 16:56  |  judith 11/01/09
      13.   Dream on indrajaya.That`s all you can do 16:56  |  John 11/01/09
      14.   You can`t wait 17:32  |  Serge 11/01/09
      15.   Hamas hiding like rats, big heroes 17:59  |  maurice 11/01/09
      16.   Indrajaya cannot wait 18:00  |  Crapprof 11/01/09
      17.   to #4 Marco 18:01  |  The Logic 11/01/09
      18.   Hamas Mosques are thier most potent weapon 19:09  |  Orkochav 11/01/09
      19.   Coward Hamas 00:29  |  Coward 12/01/09
      20.   #9 indra: You are like Saddam. He also couldn`t wait 04:00  |  Vittorio 12/01/09
      21.   #11 Stupidity 05:44  |  Johnboy 12/01/09
      22.   #15 Israeli soldier boys, big heroes 07:55  |  hala 12/01/09
      23.   hala 11:25  |  danny 12/01/09
     Read & React
    Legal expert: Rising Gaza death toll doesn't mean IDF acts are disproportionate
    Responses: 102
    Sources: Hamas leaders hiding in basement of Israel-built hospital in Gaza
    Responses: 72
    IDF: Hamas rocket fire down 50% since start of Gaza op
    Responses: 28
    Gideon Levy: Israel's leaders will pay for the bloodshed in Gaza
    Responses: 55
    Aluf Benn: Israel has a double standard when it comes to UN resolutions
    Responses: 42


    More Headlines
    23:21 IDF soldier seriously hurt in Gaza, possibly by friendly fire
    23:19 Haniyeh: Hamas is willing to negotiate on Gaza cease-fire
    20:18 Israel bans Arab parties from running in upcoming elections
    19:35 Bush: Hamas must stop rocket fire if it wants Gaza truce
    17:40 UN Human Rights Council condemns Israel over Gaza op
    23:01 IDF reservist refuses to fight in Gaza over civilian deaths
    16:55 Gaza War Diary IV - Can people die of ambivalence?
    11:28 Amira Hass / Gazans doing their best to avoid becoming death statistics
    18:20 Peres: The IDF has never been better trained, as sophisticated
    18:20 Get up to the minute coverage of the warfare in Gaza directly to your email
    22:59 Gaza rocket strikes Ashkelon home, residents flee to shelter
    21:42 Israel voices concern over anti-Semitic attacks in Europe
    18:43 Olmert: Gaza war won't end until rockets and smuggling stop
    14:05 Immigration officials: Gaza op hasn`t deterred infiltration of migrants from Egypt
    13:12 France vows to punish assailants who hurled firebombs at Paris synagogue
    13:50 ANALYSIS / Israel's victories in Gaza make up for its failures in Lebanon
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Summer in Israel
    Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
    Blue And White Forever Israel Army T-shirts
    Wear with Proud Donate the Soldiers Kit
    You can make a direct IMPACT!
    on the life of an Israeli soldier
    State of Israel Bonds
    During this time of market volatility, Israel bonds can help.
    SURF RAMBAM
    Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research.
    Summer Camp in Israel
    The best place for your children this summer
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved