Israeli soldier, military officials said.
In a statement to BosNewsLife the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that troops used "artillery fire at open areas in the southern Gaza Strip," as well as "aerial attacks on three bridges in the central Gaza Strip," to fight their way into regions controlled by Palestinian militants. Air strikes also knocked out a power station south of Gaza City, the IDF said.
Humanitarian organizations reportedly expressed fears that daily life in Gaza may be disrupted as a result of the attack on the power station, as all water pipes in the Palestinian area run on electricity.
The massive military operation involving an estimated 3,000 troops, along with tanks and armored vehicles, came three days after the June 25 abduction of 19-year-old soldier Gilad Shalit. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
MILITANTS DEMAND
In a statement, one of the Palestinian militant groups involved in the kidnapping of the young man, the Popular Resistance Committees, said the soldier was still alive but that he could only be set free if Israel releases all Palestinian women and children from Israeli jails.
There were no indications Wednesday, June 28, that the Israeli government would accept the demands. Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert denied suggestions that Israeli forces plan to remain in Gaza. "We do not intend to reoccupy Gaza. We do not intend to stay there. We have one objective, and that is to bring Gilat home," he said.
As the offensive continued, IDF officials said they had moved troops into the region of Dahaniya in the southeastern Gaza Strip to prevent kidnappers of moving the hostage. In a direct warning to the Palestinian Authority, the IDF stressed it "holds the Hamas government responsible for the fate of the missing soldier."
STATEHOOD PLAN
Hamas, a militant group sworn to the destruction of Israel, announced Tuesday, June 27, it had agreed with rival faction Fatah on a statehood plan that implicitly recognizes Israel. However Israel already rejected the agreement as it also calls for continues attacks against Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank and not clearly formulates the right of the Jewish State to exist.
Israeli Government Spokesman Ra’anan Gissin said Tuesday, June 27, that "Hamas is not offering any peace with Israel, it’s offering a stay of execution. In other words, ‘we’ll give you 10 or 15 years of peace and quiet and then we’ll destroy you when we’re strong.’ This is not a deal for us."
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni claimed Monday, June 26, that Gaza was "turning into a terror base with the support of the Hamas government." (With reports from Gaza).
