A photographer working for the Associated Press news agency was kidnapped by gunmen in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. According to the news agency, the Spanish photographer was entering a vehicle outside his home when he was apprehended by a group of Palestinian men. Thus far, no one has claimed responsibility for the incident.
Several journalists and foreigners have been kidnapped in recent months in the Gaza Strip, many times, in protest of conditions or lack of employment in the Strip.
In almost every case, the kidnapped men are returned unharmed shortly after being taken hostage following pressure applied by the Palestinian Authority for their release.
Also in Gaza Strip, the Israeli military reportedly fired at two Qassam rocket launchers in northern part of the strip which had been used Monday night to launch rockets at the southern Israeli town of Sderot.
On the southern part, occupation forces pulled out from the "Philadelphi" route early Tuesday morning, concluding an operation to uncover arms-smuggling tunnels dug by Palestinian groups, Israel's Army Radio reported. But the troops could be sent back to the area within days, the report said.
In the course of "Operation Squeezed Fruit," which lasted several days, the occupation troops were reportedly discovered 15 tunnels under the route, which marks the southwestern border between Egypt and the Palestinian Authority, the radio said.
