sraeli army started preparing for a complete invasion into the Gaza Strip in an operation that aims to “put pressure on the Palestinian Population” in northern Gaza Strip. Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said that the operation would start within the coming hours.
The army plans to to distribute leaflets warning the Palestinian residents of Beit Hanoun in the northern part of the Gaza Strip to leave their homes as the army will start shelling heavily populated areas. Army claims that these areas are used by resistance fighters as launching pads for homemade shells.
The army added that the shellings will be carried out using artillery units though there will also be "precision fire from land and air.”
Senior Israeli military officials said they expect the residents of Beit Hanoun to start leaving their houses Thursday morning.
In a separate incident, Israeli sources reported that despite extensive military presence on the Gaza borders, Palestinian resistance fighters shot at least six homemade shells into settlements adjacent to the Gaza borders. No injuries were reported.
