Recent operations in Gaza have drawn international criticism over civilian casualties and fueled Palestinian fears that Israel’s new rightist government will reoccupy all of the Strip while world attention is focused on possible U.S. war on Iraq.
The army said in a statement that the new Gaza deployment “was part of an attempt to...prevent the launching of Qassam rockets toward Israeli communities near the northern Gaza Strip”.
Three of the rudimentary rockets slammed into the southern Israeli town of Sderot on Thursday, causing no casualties, hours after the crushing raid on Jabalya.
The seizing of parts of northern Gaza marked a growing escalation in the strip that began Feb. 15, when Hamas blew up a tank in the area, killing four Israeli soldiers. Dozens of Palestinians have been killed in Israeli incursions since then.
The army said in a statement that the new Gaza deployment “was part of an attempt to...prevent the launching of Qassam rockets toward Israeli communities near the northern Gaza Strip”.
Three of the rudimentary rockets slammed into the southern Israeli town of Sderot on Thursday, causing no casualties, hours after the crushing raid on Jabalya.
The seizing of parts of northern Gaza marked a growing escalation in the strip that began Feb. 15, when Hamas blew up a tank in the area, killing four Israeli soldiers. Dozens of Palestinians have been killed in Israeli incursions since then.