The Israeli army launched an air raid in the central Gaza Strip on Monday after a military patrol came under fire, witnesses said. According to AFP, the raid was reported in the Maghazi refugee camp. An army spokesman said that the incident was sparked when "two armed gunmen were identified planting an explosive device near the security fence."
"And IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) arrived at the scene on the Israeli side of the fence, the Palestinians opened fire at the force and the force pursued the gunmen inside the Gaza Strip. "They asked for aerial support and the force directed an air strike."
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has suspended his envoy for the Gaza truce talks in Egypt after the latter launched stern criticism against the outgoing premier last week. "The prime minister decided to suspend Amos Gilad from his functions as negotiator with Egypt as he no longer enjoys his confidence," a senior government official told AFP.
"Gilad had a sensitive role as he carried negotiations with Egypt on a truce and the liberation of (captured Israeli soldier) Gilad Shalit, but unfortunately his behaviour, in particular an interview given last week to the daily Maariv, lost him the confidence of his superiors," the official said. Contacts with Egypt on the truce and a prisoner exchange for Shalit will be continued by a senior official from the prime minister's office, he said.
Gilad lashed out at Olmert in remarks published in the Maariv daily last Wednesday over efforts to turn ceasefires that ended the December-January Gaza war into a lasting truce.
