Israeli troops enter Gaza strip in arrest operation
Israeli troops entered the Gaza Strip before dawn today to arrest two members of the Hamas militant group, before pulling out of the area, in one of the first incursions into the Palestinian-controlled area since withdrawing last summer, the army said.
The troops carried out the pinpoint operation meant to prevent the two Hamas members from carrying out a large attack against Israel in the near future and withdrew from the area, the army spokesman said.
The Hamas group confirmed the incursion, saying troops entered the southern Gaza Strip, east of the town of Rafah, about 700 meters, to storm a house, make the arrests, and then withdraw. They stayed in for about an hour but were still located near the border later in the morning, the group said.
Israeli troops also entered the Gaza Strip last month, about two miles, to kill three Palestinian militants who were launching rockets. That was the first ground incursion since Israel pulled out of the Gaza Strip in September.
Israel has been hesitant to re-enter Gaza, concerned that such an operation would entangle troops in a drawn-out reoccupation of the coastal area.
