Israel army launches Gaza assault
06/27/2006
BBC News
The Israeli army has begun a ground offensive in southern Gaza to try to gain the release of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian militants.
Israeli aircraft earlier bombed bridges and a power plant in the Gaza Strip.
Cpl Gilad Shalit was abducted by Palestinian militants during a raid on an Israeli post near Gaza on Sunday.
Israel had warned of a massive military assault if he was not freed and its tanks have been massing along the border with Gaza for several days.
It is unclear how many troops are being used in the incursion, launched from the Kerem Shalom crossing near southern Gaza.
The assault on Gaza marks Israel’s first major incursion into the territory since it withdrew its soldiers and settlers last year, ending almost 40 years of occupation.
‘Limited operation’
The Israeli forces are reported to have taken up positions near the town of Rafah, shortly after passing Gaza’s disused international airport.
The Associated Press news agency quotes Palestinian witnesses as saying the soldiers were moving under the cover of tank shells.
Palestinian militants anticipating an Israeli assault have been erecting barricades and preparing hideouts and ambush positions.
A spokeswoman for the Israeli armed forces said they had not encountered any resistance from the Palestinians.
Israeli military officials have been quoted as saying Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had backed a “limited operation” targeting the “terrorist infrastructure”.
Militants’ demands
Hours before the ground assault, the Israeli jets attacked three bridges and a power plant in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military confirmed that the first strike on the bridge was aimed at stopping Palestinian militants from moving Cpl Shalit.
The strike on the plant plunged much of Gaza into darkness. It is not yet clear if there were any casualties.
The soldier was captured when Palestinian militants burrowed under the Gaza border and attacked an Israeli army position, killing two soldiers.
Israel has rejected the militants’ demands for Palestinian women and children held in Israeli jails to be freed in exchange for information about the soldier.