Early on Tuesday morning, the Israel Air Force attacked a tunnel in the northern Gaza Strip near the Karni crossing. The army said it was designed to transport Palestinian militants into Israel to carry out an imminent attack. Early on Tuesday morning, the Israel Air Force attacked a tunnel in the northern Gaza Strip near the Karni crossing. The army said it was designed to transport Palestinian militants into Israel to carry out an imminent attack.
Security officials said secondary explosions were seen after the air strike, indicating that there were explosives in the tunnel. Aides of the Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Monday taht he plans to maintain the cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, and will not respond to Monday's suicide bombing in Eilat with a broad military offensive.
An Army official said in a statement that "The terror groups are making cynical use of the crossing, and undermine the Palestinian interest…We will continue to operate, with all the means at its disposal, in a bid to damage the terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip".
Israeli officials are denying any intention of violating the recent ceasefire, which was brought into action at 3 A.M on Tuesday by Palestinian Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Zahhar in Gaza. The ceasefire calls for a truce between all Hamas and Fateh affiliated gunmen, and a refrain from violence on the streets of Gaza.
"Israel has no interest in terminating the ceasefire and the current calm. The operation was in no way connected to the suicide bombing in Eilat. This issue will be dealt with separately in a meeting with the prime minister Wednesday," an official explained.
