Israel Helicopters, Tanks Move Into Gaza

Tuesday, August 22, 2006
(08-22) 00:20 PDT GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) --

Israeli soldiers backed by helicopter gunships, tanks and armored personnel carriers, moved into Palestinian-controlled areas near the main Israel-Gaza cargo crossing on Tuesday, conducting house-to-house searches and arrests.

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.

"I was waiting for the harvest, which was to start next month, to pay for the marriage of my grandson, but the bulldozers are destroying my hopes," Helles said.

Separately, in southern Gaza, the Israeli army moved into farmlands 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.

The army had no immediate comment.