A large contingent of Israeli infantry and armor units moved into the ruins of former settlements in northern Gaza Strip late Wednesday and early Thursday. At least 22 Palestinians have been killed in since the early hours of Thursday morning.
In the latest attack, at least five people died in Beit Lahiya when an Israeli missile hit a group of Palestinians. An Israeli aircraft attacked a group of Palestinians in southern Gaza Strip Thursday afternoon, killing two people and wounding five others, witnesses said. Later, some eight Palestinians died by Israeli fire in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia.
Palestinian sources said an Israeli missile and two shells were fired at a group of armed men in Beit Lahia. At least 20 other people were wounded in the strike. Four of the victims were identified as Ahmed Ahmed al Khaldi, Muhammed Anwar Tafesh, Muhammed Udi and Muhammed Ahmed al Attar.
Earlier Thursday, a Palestinian fighter died and an Israeli soldier was seriously injured in fierce fighting between occupation troops and Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahiya. The Israeli later died of his wounds.
Before daybreak, Israeli soldiers and some 15 tanks entered the sites of the former settlements of Nissanit, Dugit and Elei Sinai. As ground forces moved forward, artillery and Israeli warplanes struck targets in the area.
Hamas sources said one fighter died and another injured in an airstrike on a Gaza beach early Thursday.
According to Israeli reports, Israel plans to occupy a Palestinian territory of about one-and-a-quarter kilometers, close to Beit Hanun, in a bid to foil attempts by Palestinian gunners from targeting the city of Ashkelon. In addition to the northern part, large Israeli forces are continuing to act in three additional areas in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinians said that a Hamas member and a coastal policeman died late Wednesday, the former in an Israeli strike and the latter in an explosion on a northern Gaza beach.
Late Wednesday, witnesses said a car carrying reporters from the Al-Jazeera Arabic satellite TV channel came under fire in Beit Lahiya shortly before midnight. One of the wounded reporters, Wael Dahdouh, said Palestinian gunmen apparently believed the car to be carrying undercover Israeli agents.
On his part, Spokesman of Presidency, Nabil Abu Rdaina, called Thursday for an immediate ending of the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people. In an exlusive statement to WAFA, Abu Rdaina asserted that the Israeli "gradual" reoccupying of Gaza Strip makes the situation more complicated rather than solves the problem.
He called for giving the adequate opportunity for the exerted efforts to reach an acceptable solution for the current crisis. Abu Rdaina concluded by reiterating the rejection of the Israeli policy which would negatively affect the whole situation in the region.
