Israeli troops ambush deep inside Gaza Strip

JERUSALEM – For the first time since Israel evacuated the territory nine months ago, Israeli Defense Forces troops today carried out an anti-terror operation deep inside the Gaza Strip in a town that formerly housed a thriving Jewish community.

Defense officials said more ground operations in Gaza will likely follow.

Critics of Israel's Gaza withdrawal had warned the retreat would prompt an onslaught of terrorism requiring the IDF to enter the territory.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is planning a second withdrawal from most of Judea and Samaria, mountainous terrain within rocket firing range of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the country's international airport.

Early today, a special IDF unit entered deep inside the Gaza Strip and set up an ambush within the ruins of Dagit, a coastal town that previously was part of Gush Katif, the slate of Gaza's Jewish communities Israel evacuated last August. The town has been regularly used the past few months by terrorists to fire Qassam missiles at Jewish neighborhoods bordering Gaza.

When an Islamic Jihad Qassam missile crew arrived, reportedly intending to fire rockets, the IDF forces opened fire. The troops, backed by an IAF helicopter gunship and a naval unit, killed four Jihad members. After a fierce gun battle with nearby militants who joined in the clashes, the IDF unit exited Gaza without any casualties.

Military officials described the Gaza operation as "high risk" and "well orchestrated." It was the deepest the IDF has operated in Gaza since the August withdrawal. Until now, the Israeli army has attempted to halt Qassam rocket fire from outside Gaza mostly utilizing artillery units and airial strikes. Soldiers on two occasions the past few months entered Gaza but only a few feet deep to search for explosives along a border fence.

Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz vowed today operations against Qassam launch cells in Gaza would continue by air, sea and, if needed, with ground operations in order to prevent further rocket fire.

Since Israel withdrew from Gaza more over 400 rockets have been fired at adjacent Jewish communities. More than ten rockets were fired in the last week alone. Two rockets were fired this morning.

Israel says it has information rockets have been transferred from the Gaza Strip to Judea and Samaria.

For many, the reports of troops entering Gaza actualize warnings repeatedly voiced by opponents of the Gaza withdrawal plan prior to its implementation.

Some military leaders, including former Gaza commanders and a former Israeli defense minister, have been calling on Israel in recent weeks to reoccupy parts of Gaza to halt terror operations and the regular Qassam firings.

As WND recently reported, Israeli troops last month quietly trained for a large-scale incursion and occupation of Gaza in the event it is deemed necessary.

In an interview with Israel's Maariv daily, IDF Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant, who leads the unit responsible for the Gaza area, said the army could reoccupy Gaza.

"If the price we have to pay becomes unreasonable as a result of increased [Palestinian] attacks, then we shall have to take all steps, including occupying the Gaza Strip," he said.

While Israeli officials contemplate Gaza operations, Olmert is attempting to push through a large-scale evacuation of most of Judea and Samaria, territory commonly referred to as the West Bank.

About 200,000 Jews live in Judea and Samaria. A separation barrier, still under construction in certain areas, cordons off nearly 95 percent of the territory from Israel's pre-1967 borders. More than half Judea and Samaria's Jewish residents reside on the side of the fence closest to Israel. About 80,000 more Jews live on the other side of the barrier. Olmert officials have stated the past few weeks the new prime minister plans to enforce a withdrawal from all 68 Jewish towns that fall outside the barrier.

In a widely circulated WND article, leaders of every major Palestinian terror organization warned they will soon launch a massive violent campaign against Israel focused mainly on Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.

One senior terrorist said now that Olmert announced a Judea and Samaria withdrawal, terrorism against Israel must be stepped up "to prove we are chasing out the Israelis like we did in Gaza."

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