Yesterday was one of Israel’s more successful days in its long-running war
against Palestinian terrorism, featuring five Israel Air Force attacks on
terrorist targets in Gaza – yet the army found itself on the defensive this morning,
in light of the incidental death of five civilians in the attacks. At least
eight terrorists were killed, and several weapons and explosives factories were
destroyed. Army sources said that in the last attack, two terrorists were
killed while trying to infiltrate into pre-1967 Israel.

IDF Spokesperson Ruth Yaron, who issued an official apology on behalf of the
IDF for the killings, said, “When we have to apologize, we do. But we have to
understood what happened there: Terrorists were on their way [to perpetrating
an attack against Israeli civilians in Nachal Oz], and our action prevented a
major catastrophe… At the same time, we have to see how we reduce these
deaths of civilians to a minimum. But it must be understood how difficult this
is…” Army sources reported this afternoon that only 1-3 of those killed were
not terrorists, and not many more as had been previously reported.

Deputy Defense Minister Ze’ev Boim, asked this morning about the killing of
the civilians, said, “Some – not all – of the civilians there are not exactly
innocent. They cooperate with the terrorists, help out in hiding the weapons
and explosives, and sometimes are even paid for their efforts.” Boim also said
that the terrorist networks are implanted deep within the residential
neighborhoods.

The attack in question began when an IDF unit saw a terrorist cell on its way
towards Nachal Oz, and opened pursuit. A combat helicopter fired a missile at
the escaping terrorists, killing two of them – and 15 seconds later, fired a
second missile as the other terrorists’ getaway car entered the
terrorist-stronghold neighborhood of Nuseirat. It was this missile that killed seven other
Arabs. Finkler noted that Israel Air Force spokesmen firmly denied PA claims
that the second missile was purposely fired several minutes later into a crowd
of civilians that had gathered outside the targeted car. “Those who were hurt
and killed ‘incidentally’ were not merely innocent passersby,” Finkler noted.
“They rather knew exactly what was going on.” Army officials said afterwards
that a major suicide attack against Israelis had thus been thwarted.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad sources are threatening to avenge the attacks in a
“non-ordinary” manner, “not in the mild way to which the Zionists have become
accustomed.” The U.S. State Department warned all American citizens to leave the
Gaza Strip, and recommended against visiting “Israel or the West Bank” in the
near future. Military commentators have said in the past that there is no
such thing as Hamas “revenge,” as the terrorists continually attempt to attack,
and do so whenever the opportunity arises, regardless of Israel’s actions.

In other incidents in the ongoing Oslo War, Palestinian terrorists fired four
mortar shells late this afternoon at Gush Katif, and three others at an area
near Netivot in the Negev. No one was hurt, but damage was caused to one
building. In addition, Arabs shot at workers in Rafiach Yam this morning; no one
was hurt.

Minister Dr. Uzi Landau, who served as Public Security Minister in the
previous government, says that counter-terrorism strikes must continue. He says that
the government should publish a list of names of all the terrorists being
sought, thus informing PA residents which persons are to be targeted in
counter-terrorism operations. This will enable the innocent residents to know from whom
they must keep their distance, in order to avoid injury or death during a
possible Israeli strike against the terrorists.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2003 and is filed under news.