Six Gazans die today, Katyusha hits Israel

A Katyusha rocket struck a western Israeli town Sunday, as six Palestinians died in the early hours of Sunday. This came as a result of fighting with Israel Defense Forces troops in the Gaza Strip. Six Gazans die today, Katyusha hits Israel The deaths bring the total number of Palestinians killed since before dawn Saturday to approximately 70, Tel Aviv daily Haaretz says. Some of the six Palestinians died of wounds sustained in Saturday's fighting, while some were killed in IDF strikes early Sunday, although it was not clear how many belong to each category. There were no injuries or damage in the Katyusha strike. Also Sunday, a total of five Qassam rockets were fired at Israel. Three of the rockets struck open areas in the western Negev and causing no damage or injuries. Later, a Qassam hit adjacent a kindergarten in Sderot, Israel Radio reported. There were no injuries in the attack. A Qassam also struck between two residential buildings in the western Negev town. Two people were treated for shock. IAF aircraft struck seven targets in the Gaza Strip in the early hours of Sunday, including the Gaza headquarters of Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, who was deposed as Palestinian prime minister following Hamas' violent takeover of the Gaza Strip last June. The IAF fired three missiles at the building, which completely collapsed, and at least five people were wounded in the strike, according to Palestinian witnesses. Hamas said in response that the strike "crossed all red lines regarding the Zionist enemy's fire." In addition to Haniyeh's headquarters, three arms warehouses were targeted, including two in southern Gaza and one in Jabalya, the IDF said. The military also struck three weapons production facilities, two of them in Gaza City and one in Rafah. The IDF also opened fire on an armed militant in northern Gaza, and said troops confirmed hitting him. On Saturday, two IDF soldiers and 63 Palestinians, many of them civilians, were killed in an IDF operation in northern Gaza City. The operation is expected to continue for several days. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority announced the suspension of talks with Israel. The government wants to continue with attacks from the air and localized ground operations, but the IDF General Staff believes that continued fighting might escalate the situation to the point where broader military action is ordered. Over the weekend dozens of Qassam rockets and Katyushas were fired at Ashkelon, Sderot and communities bordering the Gaza Strip. Seven Israeli civilians were lightly wounded. The soldiers who were killed - Staff Sergeant Doron Assulin, 20, of Be'er Sheva, and Staff Sergeant Eran Dan-Gur, 20, of Jerusalem- were hit in the early stage of the operation as troops deployed. One was shot by a Palestinian sniper; the other died in an exchange of fire at close range. An IDF officer was moderately wounded and another six soldiers were lightly hurt in the fighting. IDF sources said the actual Palestinian death toll in Saturday's battles was probably over 70. Most were from Hamas, but a few were from the Popular Resistance Committees and from Islamic Jihad. Many civilians were also killed in the operation. Over the next few days the IDF will sweep the area for wanted militants and material. Special effort will focus on hitting the rocket production chain-warehouses, transport, and launch squads. IDF sources admit, however, that the rocket fire will continue, even if the launch areas are pushed farther from Israeli territory. The army believes that Hamas wants to establish a 'balance of terror' to deter the IDF from attacking its people from the air or initiating ground operations, because for every such operation Hamas will respond with Qassams and even Katyushas against Ashkelon. According to Israeli intelligence, Hamas wants to end the current round of violence. However, Israel is keeping up the pressure because it wants to force Hamas to stop firing at Ashkelon. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will hold talks with military leaders Sunday on the situation in the Gaza Strip.

Six Gazans die today, Katyusha hits Israel

The deaths bring the total number of Palestinians killed since before dawn Saturday to approximately 70, Tel Aviv daily Haaretz says.

Some of the six Palestinians died of wounds sustained in Saturday's fighting, while some were killed in IDF strikes early Sunday, although it was not clear how many belong to each category.

There were no injuries or damage in the Katyusha strike. Also Sunday, a total of five Qassam rockets were fired at Israel.

Three of the rockets struck open areas in the western Negev and causing no damage or injuries. Later, a Qassam hit adjacent a kindergarten in Sderot, Israel Radio reported. There were no injuries in the attack. A Qassam also struck between two residential buildings in the western Negev town. Two people were treated for shock.

IAF aircraft struck seven targets in the Gaza Strip in the early hours of Sunday, including the Gaza headquarters of Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, who was deposed as Palestinian prime minister following Hamas' violent takeover of the Gaza Strip last June.

The IAF fired three missiles at the building, which completely collapsed, and at least five people were wounded in the strike, according to Palestinian witnesses.

Hamas said in response that the strike "crossed all red lines regarding the Zionist enemy's fire."

In addition to Haniyeh's headquarters, three arms warehouses were targeted, including two in southern Gaza and one in Jabalya, the IDF said. The military also struck three weapons production facilities, two of them in Gaza City and one in Rafah.

The IDF also opened fire on an armed militant in northern Gaza, and said troops confirmed hitting him.

On Saturday, two IDF soldiers and 63 Palestinians, many of them civilians, were killed in an IDF operation in northern Gaza City. The operation is expected to continue for several days.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority announced the suspension of talks with Israel.

The government wants to continue with attacks from the air and localized ground operations, but the IDF General Staff believes that continued fighting might escalate the situation to the point where broader military action is ordered.

Over the weekend dozens of Qassam rockets and Katyushas were fired at Ashkelon, Sderot and communities bordering the Gaza Strip. Seven Israeli civilians were lightly wounded.

The soldiers who were killed - Staff Sergeant Doron Assulin, 20, of Be'er Sheva, and Staff Sergeant Eran Dan-Gur, 20, of Jerusalem- were hit in the early stage of the operation as troops deployed. One was shot by a Palestinian sniper; the other died in an exchange of fire at close range.

An IDF officer was moderately wounded and another six soldiers were lightly hurt in the fighting.

IDF sources said the actual Palestinian death toll in Saturday's battles was probably over 70. Most were from Hamas, but a few were from the Popular Resistance Committees and from Islamic Jihad. Many civilians were also killed in the operation.

Over the next few days the IDF will sweep the area for wanted militants and material.

Special effort will focus on hitting the rocket production chain-warehouses, transport, and launch squads. IDF sources admit, however, that the rocket fire will continue, even if the launch areas are pushed farther from Israeli territory.

The army believes that Hamas wants to establish a 'balance of terror' to deter the IDF from attacking its people from the air or initiating ground operations, because for every such operation Hamas will respond with Qassams and even Katyushas against Ashkelon.

According to Israeli intelligence, Hamas wants to end the current round of violence. However, Israel is keeping up the pressure because it wants to force Hamas to stop firing at Ashkelon.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will hold talks with military leaders Sunday on the situation in the Gaza Strip.