Israeli helicopters and tanks move into Gaza
22/08/2006 - 08:33:15Israeli soldiers, backed by helicopter gunships and tanks, moved into Palestinian-controlled areas near the main Israel-Gaza cargo crossing today to conduct house-to-house searches.
Five Palestinians were wounded moderately, including three Hamas militants, medical officials said. Three Palestinians were arrested, security officials said.
The military confirmed an operation near the Karni crossing, but wouldn’t divulge its objectives.
In the past, Israeli troops have searched for tunnels being dug by militants near the crossing.
“They took two of my cousins and asked them about fighters, tunnels and many other issues,” said farmer Ahmed Helles, 65, whose olive trees were being uprooted by Israeli military bulldozers as part of the operation.
Separately, in southern Gaza, the Israeli army moved into farmland near the town of Khan Younis, firing machine guns into the fields after calling on farmers to evacuate the area, Palestinian security officials said.
Cameramen filming the operation said they came under fire, but were not wounded.
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