First Hamas offensive using two car-bombs, two armored cars is repulsed by Israeli troops
April 19, 2008, 6:23 PM (GMT+02:00)


Hamas armored car captured by Israeli forces in battle
Three blew up, one was captured. Eight soldiers were injured, two seriously, in the broad Hamas bomb-car, mortar offensive from Kerem Shalom at the southernmost tip of the Gaza-Israeli border to Kissufim in the north. At least four Palestinians were killed.

In the first attack of its kind from Gaza, Hamas used two explosives-packed jeeps and two armored vehicles. The jeeps detonated by suicide drivers broke through to the Israeli side of the Kerem Shalom goods crossing early Saturday, April 19. Terrorists jumped out of the first armored vehicle under cover of the explosion, mortar fire and heavy mist, and attacked the Israeli position guarding the terminal. This vehicle painted in IDF colors was captured and the assailants thrown back.

After the attack, southern front commander Maj.-Gen Galant praised the IDF for foiling a major Palestinian strategic attack on Israel intended to kill and abduct soldiers.

Israeli soldiers thwarted an attempt by a band of terrorists to cross into Israel, attack Kibbutz Kerem Shalom and kidnap Israeli soldiers and civilians.

The Israeli population in areas abutting the Gaza Strip was told to stay indoors under cover for fear of further terrorist incursions.

The second armored vehicle, rigged with explosives, headed for the Kissufim crossing further north. Israeli tank fire blew it up before it reached its target. The Israel air force retaliated with a heavy bombardment over the Gaza Strip. This was the first time terrorists managed to spirit any bomb vehicles to the Israel side of a border crossing.

Two days ago, dozens of Israeli trucks bringing food and essential supplies to the Kerem Shalom goods crossing for the Palestinian population came under fire and turned back. Then, too, Israeli troops thwarted an attempted incursion, one of several staged in the last two weeks by Hamas-led gunmen. Last week, three Israeli soldiers were killed and three injured in a Hamas attack in the Beeri-Alumim region, following the murder of two Israeli civilians employed at the Nahal Oz terminal through which Gaza receives its energy supplies.

Friday, 10 Palestinian missiles were fired from Gaza, five exploding in Sderot. One started a fire near a school where children were playing outside, another hit a high-voltage line and darkened the town for several hours. Israeli civilian locations have been subjected to missile and mortar attack the whole week.

In Damascus, former US president Jimmy Carter met again with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal Saturday morning after their four-hour conversation Friday night.

They were reported discussing a lull in Hamas attacks on Israel from Gaza and terms for the release of the Israeli soldier Gilead Shalit kidnapped by Hamas-led gunman nearly two years ago.

Conclusion

And that’s just some of the news this week in Palestine. For constant updates, check out our website, www.IMEMC.org. Happy Pessah to all our listeners; this is Louisa White.