<

Israeli Planes Hit Gaza Police Post
Wednesday, December 5, 2001
(6:44 AM ET)
By Ibrahim Barzak
Associated Press Writer

Two buildings were destroyed. One was the sleeping quarters for police and other security workers, evacuated in time because security officials expected an Israeli attack. The other housed offices, including a women's police division.

A Palestinian worker inspects a medical services police clinic which was damaged after Israeli warplanes dropped bombs in a police compound in Gaza City, Friday Dec .7, 2001. Israeli planes attacked a Palestinian police compound early Friday, ending a two-day lull in military strikes following weekend suicide bombings in Israel.
Photo Credit: Adel Hana -- The Associated Press.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- AP
Israel resumed its military strikes against Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority Friday, bombing a police compound in Gaza after Palestinians fired eight mortar shells at Jewish settlements. At least 20 people were injured, Palestinians said.

The pre-dawn F-16 fighter plane strike at a Palestinian security installation south of Gaza City ended a two-day lull in military action that Israel said had been meant to give Arafat a chance to act against militants responsible for suicide bombings in Israel.

After the raid, Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said Arafat "needs to do more." He told Army Radio, "We are facing a constant threat of terrorists trying to get into Israel."

The Israeli army said in a statement that the air strike targeted the "Palestinian security apparatus that supports and aids terrorist operations." Later, the army released another statement, claiming that the facility was a mortar shell factory.
(More: Excite.com News Source)
2001 © The Associated Press.

Dan