entered Gaza City late Saturday, January 25, in what is seen as one of Israel’s largest military operations since the Palestinian uprising began two years ago, reports said.
The raid came a day after an unprecedented Israeli air attack on the Anglican church within the Ahli Arab Hospital compound of Gaza City in which one patient died of shock, according to a church statement seen by BosNewsLife.
Reporters said 50 tanks pounded their way deep into Gaza City with several Apache helicopters flying overhead. "There is an activity in the area," the Cable News Network quoted an unidentified Israeli military source as saying.
EXPLOSIONS AND GUNFIRE
The city was shaken by explosions and gunfire, and several Palestinian workshops were fired on by the Israelis, as mosques called on Palestinians to resist the incursion, witnesses said.
Bursts of gunfire rang out as Palestinians apparently retaliated against the Israeli troops, while explosions and shootings were also heard in Gaza city centre near the central Palestine Square.
BRIDGE BLEW UP
Earlier Israel Defense Forces reportedly blew up a bridge connecting Beit Hanoun to Gaza City because "the bridge was being used by Palestinian militants to launch Qassam rockets on Israel," military officials claimed.
Israeli media quoted Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz on Friday, January 24, as saying that Israel was planning a series of military activities in Gaza to fight terrorist infrastructure in areas where Israel says militants fired the Qassam rockets.
The latest violence was expected to add to fears among the already frightened patients and staff of the Ahli Arab Hospital adjacent to the St. Philip’s Episcopal, which sustained a direct hit by a an Israeli guided missile Friday, January 24.
CALL FOR PRAYERS
"I call upon our friends, all over the world, to keep us in your prayers and help us to overcome this tragedy," said Hospital Director Suhaila Tarazi, in an earlier statement obtained by BosNewsLife.
Israeli soldiers entered Gaza City just days before elections scheduled for Tuesday, January 28, when Israelis will select a new parliament and prime minister.
Analysts believe the latest violence will boost public support for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who is in favor of a hard-line towards alleged Palestinian militants. His Likud party is expected to beat the opposition Labor party, opinion polls predict.
