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Terrorism

6 soldiers killed as IDF rolls on Gaza terrorists


By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
May 11, 2004

Israel Tuesday sent a large incursion force into Gaza City to disrupt the manufacture of terrorist rockets and bombs regularly used against Jewish civilians in the area.

Ground forces, rather than air power, were used in order to minimize “Palestinian” civilian casualties, the IDF said.

The gesture cost Israel dearly.

Six soldiers were killed when “Palestinian” forces detonated a large bomb against their armored personnel carrier.

The Hamas terrorists who carried out the attack reportedly filmed the bombing and stole body parts from the dead Israelis.

As the fighting boiled over into Tuesday afternoon, Israel began pouring reinforcements into Gaza, and divided the Strip into three sections in order to hinder the terrorists’ mobility.

“Palestinian” sources said five armed Arabs were killed during the heavy fighting, and up to 50 other people were wounded.

‘Major’ operation

IDF ground forces backed up by helicopter gun ships moved into the Gaza City suburb of Zeitoun early Tuesday morning in order to put out of business numerous “Palestinian” weapons factories operating in the area.

By midday, at least five such facilities had been found and destroyed.

Kassam rockets and explosives produced at the factories were regularly used to attack and murder Jewish residents of the Gaza Strip.

At least five armed Palestinian Arabs were killed in clashes with the IDF. Arab sources said up to 50 others were wounded.

The army released a statement saying it went into Gaza City with ground forces, rather than striking from the air in order to minimize civilian casualties.

Heavy casualties

The Israeli incursion force met with fierce resistance as it entered Zeitoun, and fighting was still ongoing at press time.

Six Israeli soldiers were killed in the battle when a large bomb was detonated against their armored personnel carrier.

The Hamas terrorist organization took credit for the hit, saying its “fighters” had stopped the APC with an anti-tank missile and then planted the bomb beneath it.

IDF officials said the APC was carrying a large quantity of explosive materials, which magnified the explosion many times.

Efforts to evacuate the scattered body parts of the dead soldiers were reportedly hindered by the fighting. “Palestinians” also said they stole some of the body parts.

Soldiers Tuesday afternoon were going house-to-house in Gaza City searching for the missing body parts.

Several other Israeli soldiers were also reportedly wounded in the operation.

Boiling point

As the fighting boiled over into the afternoon, the IDF began pouring reinforcements into Gaza, and divided the Strip into three sections in order to hinder the terrorists’ mobility.

Residents of the nearby Jewish settlement of Netzarim were ordered to stay inside their homes.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon cancelled all of his scheduled appointments to hold high-level consultations with defense officials.

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