IAF raids kill seven Hamas militants

The Israel Air Force has broadened its attacks against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and killed seven militants during weekend strikes. As Qassam rockets continued to land in and around Sderot, the political leadership authorized the IDF Friday to expand its operations in the Strip.

Hamas is expected today to respond to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who proposed a month-long temporary cease-fire with Israel in the Gaza Strip, to be later expanded to the West Bank. Hamas sources have hinted that the group will reject the proposal because of the continued IDF attacks against its operatives.

Meanwhile, two Israelis were injured last night in an attack along the periphery road of Jerusalem when two militants from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades opened fire on them. The two assailants were killed and the injured were evacuated to the hospital. [See Full Story on Page 2].

Qassam rockets continued to fall on Sderot over the weekend, with 22 landing in the town or nearby. Two homes were hit by the rockets and two people were lightly injured.

In view of such attacks, the IDF was authorized to expand its operations after weekend talks between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and senior army commanders.

The authorization for expanding operations has still not reached the Southern Command, sources there say. The approval by Olmert and Peretz might therefore only be theoretical and be carried out as circumstances require in the coming days.

The air strikes against Hamas targets during the weekend killed seven militants and injured at least 23 other Palestinians.

Five members of the Executive Force, a militia established by Hamas in the Gaza Strip when it came to power after winning elections over a year ago, were killed yesterday morning when their headquarters was bombed in Gaza City.

Two other Hamas militants, members of the group's military wing, were killed when their vehicle was destroyed by air force missiles Friday in the Saajiye district.

IDF sources said the two were on their way to launch Qassam rockets against Israel.

During the weekend the air force attacked nine targets throughout the Gaza Strip. Most were Executive Force targets, but the Sha'ati refugee camp in western Gaza was also hit.

In one attack Friday night, a guard post of Hamas forces protecting the home of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh was destroyed.

Israeli sources insisted that the attack was not an attempt on Haniyeh's life.

However, earlier this week, Israel's Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh had warned that none of the Hamas leaders were immune.

Haniyeh stayed away from public prayers on Friday. He issued a statement after the second strike saying the air strikes in Gaza are a sign of Israel's political and security crisis.

"This campaign will fail because of the steadfastness of the Palestinian people," Haniyeh said. "This aggression will not achieve its aims, but will lead to a further deterioration with dangerous consequences."

As the rocket attacks against the Sderot area continued over the weekend, with nine Qassam strikes Friday alone, Hamas is expected to respond to Abbas' call for a month-long cease-fire until it can be extended to include the West Bank.

Hamas sources indicated yesterday that they will reject the proposal, and statements by the organization called on all Palestinian armed groups to "strike Israel."

The militant Islamic organization charged that "Israel has crossed all the red lines and that it only understands the language of force."

A Hamas member of the Palestinian parliament, Yahiya Musa, said that "there is no point to talk about a cease-fire with Israel now."

Nonetheless, the official answer of the organization is only expected later today.

After a meeting late Friday, militant groups initially asked for 48 hours to respond to the proposal. Abbas has been in talks with them since Tuesday. Five Palestinian factions are scheduled to meet today to discuss the issue.

Palestinian factions are also slated to travel to Egypt later this week, to flesh out a fuller truce and try to resolve internal tensions that killed more than 50 Palestinians earlier this month.

However, Hamas hardened its stance after Saturday's spate of air attacks, including five in less than an hour, calling on militants to direct painful strikes on Israel.

The militant group also warned that Israel's continued attacks threatened the release of Gilad Shalit, abducted last June by militants affiliated with various groups, including Hamas.

"The enemy knows that getting Shalit back is in our hands," said Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the Hamas military wing. "It would be a dream [to return him while attacks continue]." He stressed that Shalit's life was not in danger, just his freedom.

Abu Obeida said a truce with Israel would only be possible after its airstrikes ended.

"If there is an end to the attacks, we can talk about a truce," he said.

"We discussed halting rockets in return for Israel not to conduct air, sea and land attacks, and then to include the West Bank in the truce," Ayman Taha, a Hamas spokesman, said early yesterday.

"There are no Israeli guarantees, which is a problem, because Israel can attack the West Bank during that period, and we don't want a one-sided truce."

In the West Bank, Israeli troops arrested Cabinet minister Wasfi Kabaha, confiscating his computer and many documents. The arrest came two days after a sweep in which more than 30 Hamas politicians, legislators and local council members were arrested, including the education minister.