The Israeli military killed seven Palestinian militants and a
civilian Tuesday after pulling out of a battered town where it had
mounted its biggest operation in the Gaza Strip in a year.
"The Israelis leave one area and enter another," Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas said. "We have spoken to the American
administration and to the Europeans that such a situation cannot
help restore security and stability."
Leaving behind a string of wrecked houses, toppled utility polls
and broken water pipes after six days of fighting, Israeli armor
moved out of the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, a staging
ground for rocket attacks on southern Israel.
"This is the worst raid we have ever witnessed," said Khalil
Yazji, a 45-year-old resident and police officer. "The Israeli army
has brought destruction into every single street and nearly into
every single house. This is the tsunami of Beit Hanoun."
Thousands of Palestinians, including gunmen firing in the air,
marched in funeral processions in the town for 23 people killed in
the past week. Some were militants, their bodies shrouded in
factional flags.
In all, Israeli troops killed 52 people, more than half of them
militants, during the raids that centered on Beit Hanoun,
Palestinian medical officials said. One soldier has been
killed.
In new violence, Israeli forces killed seven gunmen and a woman
in raids in three other areas in northern Gaza, militant groups and
hospital officials said. An Israeli army spokeswoman said eight or
nine gunmen had been hit by Israeli fire.
Israeli troops and settlers quit the Gaza Strip 14 months ago,
but the army in June launched a continuing offensive against
militants after gunmen from the territory crossed into Israel and
seized a soldier, who is still being held.
Unity gov't talks
Palestinian leaders pressed on with efforts to form a unity
government of professional experts which they hope can lead to a
resumption of direct foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority.
Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas planned to meet Abbas
later in the day, a source in Haniyeh's office said. The two men,
who have held on-again, off-again talks on unity, failed on Monday
to resolve differences over who should replace Haniyeh as prime
minister.
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Hamas says it will never recognize Israel or join a government that
does, making it unclear how a unity administration could meet
international demands to soften its line.
Announcing an end to "Operation Autumn Clouds," the Israeli army
said it found large amounts of weaponry, including rocket launchers
and anti-tank missile launchers, in Beit Hanoun.
Beit Hanoun's mayor, a Hamas member, said some 40 homes were
destroyed and 400 damaged during the fighting.
(China Daily November 8, 2006)
