Israeli artillery shelled several Palestinian areas in the northern part of the Gaza Strip; army claims that the shelled areas are uninhibited and are used by the resistance as launching pads for Qassam shells.
A Palestinian official reported that soldiers fired at least 15 shells at several areas in the northern Gaza Strip.
The official stated that tanks based at the northern borders also fired shells at Beit Hanoun, Jabalia and Beit Lahia; most of the shells detonated close to Palestinian security basis.
The attacks are part of the Israeli offensive which was called “Blue Skies” which aims to reoccupy areas in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. The areas Israel intends to capture and use as a security zone is 16 square kilometers.
The plan will be conducted in three phases, which include expelling the residents from there homes by shelling their areas, and transform it into a closed military zone.
Israeli Defense Minister, Shaul Mofaz, instructed the army to resume the shelling and threatened that any Palestinian who enters the forbidden zone will be targeted by the military shells.
