Print

Mail

wiki links

Israeli troops kill two Hamas militants in shootout

Israeli troops killed two Hamas militants in a shootout 2km inside Gaza yesterday, a day after Israeli leaders authorized larger numbers of ground forces to enter the volatile territory on pinpoint missions against Hamas rocket squads.

In another raid, in the West Bank city of Nablus, Israeli troops arrested Palestinian Legislator Jamal Tirawi of Fatah, who has close ties to the movement's violent offshoot, the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, and was wanted for involvement in attacks on Israel.

In the past year, Israel has arrested scores of Hamas lawmakers, but Tirawi was the first to be detained from Fatah, which is led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Israel launched its latest military campaign in Gaza two weeks ago in an effort to curb Hamas rocket attacks on Israeli border communities.

Abbas has called on militants to take the first step in forging a new truce with Israel.

Israel's predawn foray yesterday into southern Gaza marked the second time in the latest round of fighting that Israeli forces entered the area, which Israel evacuated in September 2005.

Details of the raid were murky. Witnesses said forces searched three houses and arrested two brothers with ties to Hamas. At some point, a gunbattle erupted, and two militants were killed.

Abbas, meanwhile, appealed to militant groups to initiate a cease-fire with Israel, saying the alternative would be the collapse of the Palestinian coalition government.

The militants have said there could be no truce if Israel keeps up its attacks and refuses to extend any Gaza cease-fire to the West Bank. In an interview on Monday, Abbas said Palestinians should take the first step.

In unusually harsh criticism of the militants, Abbas said the rocket attacks are pointless.

"We say the Israelis have left Gaza, and all the settlements were dismantled. Who are we fighting? Why are we fighting?" Abbas said.

At a news conference yesterday, Abbas said he would meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert next week, keeping alive a US-backed dialogue. Abbas proposed a new truce between militants and Israel.
This story has been viewed 801 times.