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Last Update: 22/07/2004 22:24

Three Islamic Jihad militants killed in IAF strike in Gaza

By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and Agencies

Three Islamic Jihad militants were killed Thursday evening when an Israel Air Force helicopter missile struck their car as they were traveling in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City.

Israeli security sources confirmed that the target of the strike was Hazam Rahim, a senior activist in Islamic Jihad, who had planned to carry out an attack in Israel in the coming days.

Rahim, who was killed in the strike, was one of those responsible for the removal of the body parts of IDF soldiers killed when their armored personnel carrier exploded in the neighborhood in May 2004.

Rahim's brother was killed during an attempt to infiltrate the central Gaza settlement of Netzarim in 2002.

The identities of the other two militants were not clear.

The strike occurred in a district known as a stronghold of Islamic militants frequently targeted by the Israel Defense Forces.

Ramez Daloul, 43, said he was coming out of a mosque after evening prayers when he heard a huge explosion. "I saw a car on fire and the body of a man hanging out its windshield," he said.

The IDF confirmed the strike on a member of the militant group, but declined to give the identity of the target.

Troops blow up rocket launcher in Gaza

Earlier Thursday, IDF troops blew up a Qassam rocket launcher in the Beit Hanun area of the northern Strip, Israel Radio reported.

Earlier, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on an IDF post near Beit Hanun, and another one close to the settlement of Neveh Dekalim, according to Army Radio. No casualties or damage were reported in either incident.

In the southern Strip, troops discovered two weapons-smuggling tunnels during an operation in Rafah early Thursday, Israel Radio reported.

The troops safely detonated both of the tunnels, one of which stretched 80 meters from Egypt to Rafah and was built beneath a civilian structure, according to the report.

Palestinians detonated several explosive devices near the troops, causing no injuries.

Palestinian sources told the Itim news agency Thursday that Israeli troops had demolished 20 houses in Rafah in the past two days. Weapons-smuggling tunnels are generally hidden inside houses in south Gaza.

Palestinians open fire late Thursday afternoon on the Neveh Dekalim settlement in the Gush Katif region of the southern Gaza Strip. There were no casualties.

In Ramallah, IDF special forces arrested a wanted Tanzim member Thursday afternoon.

Tanzim men planning attack arrested in Bethlehem
An elite IDF unit arrested before dawn Thursday seven Palestinian militants in the West Bank city of Bethlehem who the IDF said were planning to carry out a suicide bombing in the next few days, Israel Radio reported.

The Palestinians belong to the Tanzim, which is affiliated with Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement. Two of the Palestinians were armed at the time of the arrest.

Security forces also arrested an additional seven Palestinian suspects in the West Bank overnight. Palestinian gunmen opened fire on IDF troops when they entered Jenin to arrest a female suspect, Israel Radio said. No injuries were reported.