IDF infantry moves into Palestinian side of Erez border crossing

July 7, 2006

By Amos Harel, Avi Issacharof and Mijal Grinberg, Haaretz Correspondents, and News Agencies

Givati Brigade infantry troops backed up by armored personnel carriers, tanks and bulldozers moved into the Palestinian side of the Erez border crossing on Tuesday afternoon as part of operations that are continuing despite the ultimatum issued by the kidnappers of Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit.

The border crossing between Israel and northern Gaza was completely sealed off.

The IDF Spokesperson said troops are searching for tunnels built near the border by terror organizations. This is the third focal point of IDF activity in Gaza since the IDF has been operating in the southern strip since last Wednesday, in an effort to secure the release of Shalit, seized 10 days ago in an attack on his IDF post near the Gaza border. Two other soldiers were killed in the attack by three groups, including Hamas' military wing.

Gaza Palestinians continued to fire Qassam rockets at Israel on Tuesday. Two rockets aimed at Sderot failed to make it into Israel and landed in Palestinian territory. An additional rocket slammed into the Sderot area but did not cause any damage or casualties.

Three rockets also hit Israel before dawn on Tuesday.

Troops kill two militants in northern Gaza
Soldiers killed two Palestinian militants in the northern Gaza Strip near Beit Hanun on Monday after tanks and armored bulldozers crossed the border amid efforts to free a soldier abducted last week by Palestinian militants, witnesses said.

An IDF spokeswoman said forces in northern Gaza opened fire on two Palestinian gunmen, hitting one of them. The IAF later attacked their convoy from the air, killing a second militant.

IDF armored vehicles moved inside northern Gaza just after dawn on Monday but a military source said the operation did not mark the start of a threatened large-scale incursion against Palestinian militants..

IDF sources called the northern Gaza incursion a "pinpoint" action aimed at uncovering cross-border tunnels and bombs.

Its ground incursion into the Strip was the first since Israel pulled its troops from the region in September, 2005.

"This is not a massive ground entrance. This is a pin-point operation to locate tunnels and explosives near the border fence," said the IDF source.

A Qassam rocket was fired from Gaza on Monday, landing in the western Negev and torching a local orchard.