5 Kassams, Mortar Shells Hit W. Negev

Jerusalem Post
November 18, 2008

http://www.jewishpolicycenter.org/421/5-kassams-mortar-shells-hit-w-negev

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip fired three Kassam rockets and two mortar shells at the western Negev on Tuesday afternoon.

One rocket landed in an open field in the Sha'ar Hanegev municipality, and two additional rockets were fired shortly afterwards. No casualties or damage were reported.

Two mortar shells fired from the northern Gaza Strip also landed in the Sha'ar Hanegev region. No casualties were reported in this incident.

Earlier, IDF tanks entered the Gaza Strip briefly on Tuesday, for the first time in a week, Palestinian residents said. Terror groups said they fired rockets and mortars at the tanks.

The tanks, backed by a bulldozer and military jeep, rumbled about 500 meters deep into the Strip, residents and Gaza security officials said. Residents said they leveled lands along the border east of the city of Rafah.

The military described the activity as "a routine operation to uncover explosive devices near the border fence in the southern Gaza Strip." It said two mortars were fired at troops, causing no injuries or damage. The tanks did not respond to the Palestinian fire.

Gaza security officials said the military withdrew from the area by early afternoon.

At least 17 terror operatives have been killed since the truce began unraveling, and by the military's count, terrorists have fired more than 140 rockets and mortars at Israel.

In an effort to squelch the rocket fire, Israel has kept cargo crossings into Gaza clamped shut for the most part, drastically restricting supplies.

Both Israel and leaders of Hamas have said they hoped the Egyptian-brokered truce could be preserved. But a small, Hamas-allied group said they consider the truce to have broken down, and Israel has threatened to hit hard if the rocket fire persists.

On Tuesday, a spokesman for the Hamas-run Interior Ministry accused Israel of subverting the truce.

"We call on the Palestinian factions to meet to begin an immediate re-evaluation of the calm," spokesman Ihab al-Ghussein said.

In recent weeks, several dozen foreign activists have defied the siege, reaching Gaza by boat to try to draw attention to the misery the blockade has caused Gaza's 1.4 million people.

On Tuesday, a local anti-blockade activist, Amajad Shwa, said Israeli navy forces boarded a Palestinian fishing boat and arrested one of Gaza's foreign supporters and five Palestinian fishermen. They were also calling on two other foreigners to leave other fishing boats.

The IDF had no immediate comment.

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