Israeli tanks roll into northern Gaza following rocket attacks

Oct 7, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Gaza - At least 30 Israeli tanks and armoured vehicles rolled on Saturday night into eastern Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, witnesses and security sources reported.

The witnesses said Israeli army vehicles first entered the area on Friday, and Israel then expanded its incursion with additional vehicles and helicopters on Saturday night. The vehicles were close to residents' houses, they said.

The Israeli army told Israel Radio that the operation into northern Gaza Strip is aimed at preventing Palestinians from launching homemade rockets from the northern Gaza Strip into southern Israeli communities.

The witnesses said the incursion was followed by intensive gunfire, while Apache attack helicopters hovered over Bit Hanoun and Beit Lahia.

Meanwhile, Islamic Jihad militants claimed responsibility on Saturday night for launching a homemade rocket at southern Israel from northern Gaza.

The group said in a statement that the rocket landed in Sderout near the home of the town's mayor, Elli Moyal. Israeli Radio said no injuries or damages were reported.

Palestinian security sources said that shortly after the rocket was launched at southern Israel the Israeli army responded by firing two ground-to-ground rockets at northern Gaza Strip. No injuries had been reported.

The sources expressed fear that following Israeli officials' threats to carry out an operation against rocket launchers in the area that the Israeli army is preparing for a large-scale operation in the Gaza Strip after the end of the Jєωιѕн holidays.