Israel Defense Forces Preempt Terrorists in Nablus, Gaza

By Israel News Agency Staff

Jerusalem, Israel ----- January 5, 2008 ....... The Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Security Agency have been operating continuously against Islamic terrorist infrastructure in the cities of Nablus and Gaza.

Yesterday evening, IDF forces discovered a weapons cache with rocket manufacturing materials, explosive substances and military equipment used by terrorists. The Israel Defense Forces emphasized that the materials discovered were not operable missiles, but rather building materials used for rocket preparation.

Thirteen wanted Palestinians were arrested during the ongoing IDF defensive operation in Nablus. Two men carrying handguns were arrested after they were found hiding during searches of a building in the city. In two separate incidents, armed terrorists opened fire and hurled improvised hand grenades at IDF forces. In both incidents no injuries or damage were reported.

 

The IDF states that it is operating in order to protect the lives and ensure the security of Israel citizens, and will continue to operate against terrorist infrastructure in the Judea and Samaria region.

Armed terrorists approached IDF forces in Gaza and opened fire at them at several instances in clashes that erupted during the activity. The IDF forces responded with fire both from the air and from the ground. Seven terrorists were killed in gunbattles.

The IDF targeted four Islamic Jihad and Hamas terror organizations' structures in the Gaza Strip including an Islamic Jihad weapons warehouse in Gaza city, an Islamic Jihad terror operative's structure in the central Gaza Strip, a Hamas structure in the southern Gaza Strip and a Hamas post in the southern Gaza Strip. The defensive security actions were carried out following the continuous firing of rockets and mortar shells into Israel, including the 122 mm Grad type Katusha that hit the city of Ashkelon last week. This is the farthest location in Israel that a terrorist rocket launched from Gaza has hit.

Palestinian gunmen also opened fire at an IDF force in the area of the security fence in the northern Gaza Strip, using anti-tank missiles and small arms. The IDF responded with heavy fire and identified hitting the terrorists.

In 24 hours, Palestinians fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel over 25 mortar shells, six Qassam (Kassam) rockets and one Grad Katyusha missile.

Throughout last week approximately 30 terrorists were hit by the Israel Defense Forces.