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IDF soldiers detaining a Palestinian youth for possession of explosive devices at the Hawara checkpoint south of Nablus on Thursday. (AP)
Last update - 23:36 01/11/2007
IDF: 7 arms smuggling tunnels found under Gaza-Egypt border
By Yuval Azoulay and Mijal Grinberg, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Qassams, Sderot, Gaza Strip 

Seven tunnels used to smuggle weapons and militants from Egypt into Gaza have been uncovered by Israel Defense Forces operations over the past two days, the army said Thursday.

Some of the tunnels had electricity and lighting infrastructure, as well as ventilation systems. IDF troops demolished all of the tunnels in controlled explosions.

The IDF said the tunnels were used by Hamas to smuggle militants from Egypt into Gaza, as well as vice versa, and were also used to bring in weapons and explosives.
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The army also found three explosive devices in the area, which were meant to target troops operating in the area. The devices were neutralized by the troops.

Also Thursday, the Israel Air Force on Thursday attacked two Qassam rocket launchers in the northern Gaza Strip from which Palestinian militants had unleashed a barrage of nine rockets toward the western Negev, Army Radio reported.

One of the rockets struck front yard of a home in the western Negev town and did not explode. Two other rockets landed in open fields - one outside Sderot and another near Kibbutz Nir Am. There were no injuries or damage reported.

Rockets have landed in the region on a daily basis, yet Sderot's chief security officer, Yehuda Ben Mamen, said the latest barrage prompted school principals to call and inquire as to whether classes would be in session. Ben Mamen replied that schools would be opened as per usual.

The town unveiled Wednesday its first armor-protected student bus station. Prior to the start of the school year, parents demanded that bus stations across the city be reinforced for protection against Qassam rocket fire.

Report: IDF troops kill armed militant in south Gaza
IDF troops operating in southern Gaza on Thursday opened fire on an armed militant laying near the soldiers' position. Israel Radio reported that the militant was killed by the troops' fire.

Troops also killed four armed Palestinians overnight on Thursday in northern Gaza, during clashes near the border fence.

IDF troops regularly stage raids into Gaza to try to prevent Islamic Jihad and other factions from firing rockets or mortars across the border into Israel or at border crossings.

Palestinian in possession of 4 explosive devices arrested near Nablus
IDF troops arrested a Palestinian youth at the Hawara checkpoint south of Nablus on Thursday, after discovering four explosive devices among his possessions in a routine check.

In the initial investigation into the incident, the 16-year-old Palestinian confessed to having planned to an attack against IDF soldiers and civilians.

Border Police sappers detonated the explosives in a controlled manner.

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      1.   They launch Qassam rockets at Israeli civilians, and then 11:48  |  Yoram 01/11/07
      2.   No other country would allow this 11:54  |  Hastaroth 01/11/07
      3.   barrage baloons and netting?? 12:18  |  ROB OF MELBOURNE AUS 01/11/07
      4.   No other country is allowed 12:31  |  Martin 01/11/07
      5.   Who is the offical scorekeeper? 12:40  |  MaryRose 01/11/07
      6.   No other People 12:58  |  barry 01/11/07
      7.   Rockets#4 Martin 13:04  |  Louis Fried 01/11/07
      8.   Friends of Mine Being Rocketed 13:28  |  ralphsrant1 01/11/07
      9.   No other people... 13:33  |  Nephtaly 01/11/07
      10.   Why not move some muslims into this town? 13:38  |  Petra 01/11/07
      11.   #2 No other country has rockets attacking them either! 13:40  |  Petra 01/11/07
      12.   barry # 6 13:40  |  ChanahS 01/11/07
      13.   #8 saw a bumper sticker you might like 13:43  |  Petra 01/11/07
      14.   # 7 well WE have LEARNED from 13:52  |  Kris 01/11/07
      15.   No, Yoram, # 1, their supporters can not see the 14:11  |  Daniel 01/11/07
      16.   Petra ##11 but will it be so? 14:25  |  Hastaroth 01/11/07
      17.   9 qassams and rest on the sabbath 14:26  |  joe 01/11/07
      18.   Learn from the lebanese against fatah el Islam. 14:27  |  Gabriel 01/11/07
      19.   The closer we get to the Annapolis the more missiles 14:27  |  Avi 01/11/07
      20.   Israel must disconnect Hamastan from all 14:30  |  Robert 01/11/07
      21.   What is all the fuss about? 14:36  |  Chris Linthwaite 01/11/07
      22.   chris #21 fool 14:48  |  eddie 01/11/07
      23.   Balls Needed 14:50  |  Ron 01/11/07
      24.   #4 Martin 14:50  |  alan 01/11/07
      25.   Palestinians Gift to Mankind 14:51  |  Fred McCann 01/11/07
      26.   to natali durson 14:57  |  how to respond ? 01/11/07
      27.   Israel`s options in Gaza 14:57  |  Tosefta 01/11/07
      28.   Chris Linthwaite # 21 15:03  |  ChanahS 01/11/07
      29.   fred mcKahn 15:11  |  ka 01/11/07
      30.   #28 ChanahS 15:21  |  Chris Linthwaite 01/11/07
      31.   stop calling them "firecrackers" 15:23  |  David 01/11/07
      32.   Please grant Chris Linthwaite a holiday in Sderot 15:43  |  Fortuna Benmayor 01/11/07
      33.   Chris Linthwaite # 30 16:12  |  ChanahS 01/11/07
      34.   Rambling Politicing and Morilizations 16:13  |  Supporter Of Sderot 01/11/07
      35.   #25 Fred McCann I agree 100% 16:29  |  Kipperraes 01/11/07
      36.   #27 Tosefta - Tveria 16:38  |  * BEN JABO 01/11/07
      37.   All Israeli`s get is talk but no action from Barack 16:39  |  Shepherd 01/11/07
      38.   #4, Martin... 16:45  |  Silvienne 01/11/07
      39.   Chanah S 16:47  |  Chris Linthwaite 01/11/07
      40.   #13, Petra... 16:48  |  Silvienne 01/11/07
      41.   Even better, Fortuna Benmayor could go to Gaza... 16:53  |  Silvienne 01/11/07
      42.   Ooh! The IDF struck 2 Qassam launchers! Wow! 16:58  |  Mark 01/11/07
      43.   #21 2ND TRY Linthwaite - You forgot 17:05  |  * BEN JABO 01/11/07
      44.   #39 Linthwaite - Believe whom you wish 17:07  |  * BEN JABO 01/11/07
      45.   Chris Linthwaite # 39 17:10  |  ChanahS 01/11/07
      46.   Silvienne # 41 17:15  |  ChanahS 01/11/07
      47.   Petra no other country 17:39  |  Observer 01/11/07
      48.   Barry 6 17:41  |  Observer 01/11/07
      49.   Tosefta-Everyone is an idiot 17:41  |  ami 01/11/07
      50.   "16-year-old Palestinian in possession of 4 explosive devices" 17:46  |  Rob 01/11/07
      51.   Petra-bumper sticker 17:46  |  Observer 01/11/07
      52.   # 37 shepherd 17:59  |  Observer 01/11/07
      53.   #50 Rob 18:08  |  Chris Linthwaite 01/11/07
      54.   #43 Ben Jabo 18:14  |  Chris Linthwaite 01/11/07
      55.   Where is the Int`l Law idiot poster 18:44  |  Joseph E . 01/11/07
      56.   #46, ChanahS 18:47  |  Silvienne 01/11/07
      57.   Chris great insight 18:56  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 01/11/07
      58.   Silvienne 19:05  |  Edifice 01/11/07
      59.   Not a youth but a full grown, trained and brain washed Terrorist 19:28  |  Genuine Tosefta 01/11/07
      60.   Chris L.: One more serious point 19:31  |  Michael D. Meric 01/11/07
      61.   Silvienne #56, Here`s how. 19:38  |  Michael 01/11/07
      62.   Silvienne (#54) Grow Sheep 19:43  |  Gil 01/11/07
      63.   #58, Edifice.... 19:52  |  Silvienne 01/11/07
      64.   Hamas and cease fire(s) (Ben Jabo #36) 19:54  |  Tosefta 01/11/07
      65.   #61, Michael... 19:55  |  Silvienne 01/11/07
      66.   #61, Michael... 19:55  |  Silvienne 01/11/07
      67.   It is time Israel stopped supplying the Gaza Strip its needs, 19:56  |  Raul 01/11/07
      68.   Wretch Barak impotent as ever,where`re the el-cuts to Gaza? 19:58  |  Absolute Sweden 01/11/07
      69.   #60 20:01  |  Chris Linthwaite 01/11/07
      70.   Photo of bomber 20:05  |  American Patriot 01/11/07
      71.   Why doesn`t Israel attack the Gaza Strip to radicate 20:23  |  Olga 01/11/07