Israeli occupation tanks, bulldozers invade southern Gaza, clashes reported in the north

Date: 18 / 11 / 2008  Time:  09:05
Gaza/Bethlehem – Ma’an –

Israeli occupation forces tanks and bulldozers invaded the southern end of the Gaza Strip, near the city of Rafah at 9am on Tuesday and began razing agricultural lands.

Three tanks and two bulldozers breached the Gaza border and went 50-100 meters into the Al-Nahdah neighborhood east of Rafah, just meters away from the ruins of Gaza International Airport. Bulldozers remained in the area at press time.

The Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military branch, reported launching a projectile at the military vehicles as they rolled across the border.

Separately, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades , said it spotted, then exchanged fire with undercover Israeli forces at the northern end of the Gaza Strip, in the Al-Bura neighborhood of Beit Hanoun.

The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades urged all armed factions in Gaza to reconsider the five-month old ceasefire in light of the Israeli attacks.

Blockade

Early Tuesday morning Israeli officials announced that Gaza crossings would remain closed and cited the continuation of projectile launches from Gaza at Israeli targets as the reason for the closure according to Israel Radio.

On Monday, Karm Abu Salem (Karem Shalom) crossing was opened to allow a token amount of aid into the Strip, which UN officials estimated would last “a few days.” The border officials are not allowing any fuel or journalists into the area, creating both a media and general electricity blackout over most of the Strip.

Monday also saw the launch of four homemade projectiles by Palestinian military groups. No casualties have been reported.

Israeli military sources asserted that crossing points would remain closed as long as shells from Gaza continue to land in Israeli areas.

The international community has condemned the Israeli decision to close-down the Gaza Strip, and the move has been called an egregious example of collective punishment.


***Updated 13:10 Bethlehem time.

Israeli occupation forces invade Rafah city in southern Gaza

Tuesday November 18, 2008 09:42 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli occupation forces bulldozers, backed by armored vehicles, swept early on Tuesday morning into the eastern borders of Rafah city in southern Gaza Strip.

Witnesses said that the Israeli bulldozers began razing farm lands just 50 to 100 meters depth into Palestinian areas, mainly in the Alnahda neighborhood.

Witnesses added that the Israeli armored vehicles moved towards the Gaza international airport, and that they also razed farm lands in the area.

Meanwhile, the Al-Qassam brigades, the armed wing of the ruling Hamas party, fired a Qassam homemade shell at the invading force, witnesses confirmed.

Such a development comes as Israel continues to close the Gaza border crossings today, and Gaza-based resistance factions continue to respond with homemade shells fire onto nearby Israeli towns.

Some Israeli officials were reported as warning of carrying out a large military offensive against the Gaza Strip.