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6 Palestinians killed in clashes with IDF By Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff and Yuval Azoulay Five Palestinians were killed over the weekend by the Israel Defense Forces in the Gaza Strip, while one al-Aqsa Brigades operative was killed in Nablus in the West Bank. The Palestinians fired fewer Qassam rockets into Israel from Gaza over the past two days. But those that were fired came from Hamas, not other Palestinian factions that had previously been responsible. Security sources said the IDF had thus increased attacks on Hamas. Advertisement The IDF has also changed its mode of action in Gaza. On Friday, for the first time, it targeted from the air sites identified with the Hamas government. One of the buildings bombed, which IDF sources said Hamas was using as a command post, had also been used by the Palestinian Interior Ministry and had been empty for the past few months. Palestinian sources said a woman, 52-year-old Hania Abdel Jawad who was in a nearby building, was killed in the attack. More than 30 people were injured, the sources said. Two Hamas operatives were killed in the Jabalya refugee camp on Friday. Early yesterday, an IDF reconnaissance unit entered Jabalya, about three kilometers west of the security fence on the outskirts of Gaza City. They killed another Hamas militant - Ismail Radwan, 23 - and 15-year-old Mahmoud Abu Brash. Four Hamas men were arrested. The militants had taken shelter in a building in which there were women and children, and they surrendered after an exchange of fire. A source in the Gaza Battalion said the prisoners would probably have a high intelligence value regarding the Hamas military wing's methods of operation. The IDF has not operated in this area in recent months. Hamas is now launching rockets from this area up to a range of about 12 kilometers. Sources in the IDF said the government has not given a green light for wider action, including the occupation of areas in Gaza for longer periods. Israel is concerned that Hamas might attempt a major terror attack on a Gaza Strip border crossing, including the kidnapping of Israeli civilians or soldiers. Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the closure of the crossings on Thursday, except for exceptional humanitarian cases. The Israel Air Force also hit a Hamas position in Dir al-Balah in central Gaza. On Friday, some 40 Qassam rockets were fired from the Strip, along with 10 mortars. On Friday morning the IDF killed Ahmed Sankara, 21, in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus. Sankara was shot and killed after he was seen in a house armed with a rifle. Four other armed men in the house were later arrested. A security source said Sankara had been wanted for his involvement in terror actions against Israel, and is considered the "engineer" who planned and prepared explosive belts and charges. He was one of the few armed operatives in the West Bank who did not give up his arms to the Palestinian Authority, out of fear of the Israelis, he reportedly said. An IDF source said it was difficult to determine whether the reduction in rocket and mortar fire from the Gaza Strip was a sign that calm was returning there, or whether it was a response to Israel's military pressure and its warnings about a large-scale operation. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Vision of cooperation Saudi prince says if Israel leaves Arab land, it could join the Arab world. At odds with PM Bolton says the final IDF op in Lebanon had no impact on UN truce talks.

Today Online Barak: Pay no heed to Nasrallah, that's what gives him strength Responses: 243 Gaza power plant shuts down due to fuel shortage Responses: 157 State to review 2007 IDF assassinations in Gaza, West Bank Responses: 80 Shmuel Rosner: Why do Nevada's Jews support Clinton? Responses: 66 Catrin Ormestad: Qassam attacks are destroying life in Gaza Responses: 61 Bolton: Final IDF op in Lebanon had no impact on UN truce Responses: 34 More Headlines 00:41 Gaza power plant shuts down due to fuel blockade 01:58 Bolton: Final IDF op in Lebanon had no impact on UN truce talks 01:41 Poll: Only 16% of Israleis back Diaspora input on fate of J'lem 22:07 Peres: Public will rule on any deal reached with Palestinians 22:36 Why Republican candidate Mike Huckabee worries Jewish voters 16:21 Ministers call for assassination of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah 18:03 Saudi prince: If Israel quits Arab land, it could join Arab world 18:26 Germany warns Jewish community of terror threat from Lebanon 02:10 Teen detainees refuse to leave home condemned as unfit by gov't Previous Editions Select Day 20 jan 18 jan 17 jan 16 jan 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan 11 jan 10 jan 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan

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