JERUSALEM, 23 May 2007 — Israeli aircraft struck two camps allegedly used by Hamas yesterday, a day after a Palestinian rocket attack killed an Israeli woman. Israeli leaders suggested that even the Palestinian premier could be targeted. Israel vowed harsh retaliation in response to Monday night’s deadly rocket attack in the southern town of Sderot.
“There is no one who is in the circle of commanders and leaders in Hamas who is immune from a strike,” Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh told public radio.
“The political branch of Hamas gives its green light to those who fire rockets,” he said. “When someone preaches that the state of Israel should be destroyed, he is not in the political echelon, he is a terrorist in a suit.”
However, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert acknowledged there is no quick solution to the rocket barrages.
The moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Gaza yesterday evening in hopes of restoring a cease-fire with Israel. But Israeli and Palestinian officials accused each other of undermining truce efforts - raising the likelihood of further violent exchanges.
Eyewitnesses said Abbas entered the strip in a motorcade of dozens of vehicles, bristling with armed guards, while presidential security forces locked down central Gaza thoroughfares and marksmen staked out rooftop vantage points.
He is expected to meet Hamas leaders in hopes of halting the internecine violence as well as the fighting with Israel.
After Monday’s night’s deadly rocket strike, Israeli defense officials said the army would step up its attacks on Palestinians, warning that Hamas’ top leaders, including Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, could be in danger.
“No one has immunity.” The defense officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media, said there were no immediate plans for a large-scale ground operation in Gaza.
Leaders of Hamas and other Palestinian groups in Gaza already have taken a series of precautions to avoid Israeli attacks, turning off cellphones and staying indoors.
In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri threatened harsh retaliation if the group’s leaders were attacked. “Harming ... any of Hamas’ leadership will cost the occupation dearly,” he said. “This will mean responses.” He did not elaborate.
Seven more rockets were fired yesterday, lightly wounding two people, the army said. Israel responded with four airstrikes, targeting two suspected weapons depositories and two Hamas camps. Palestinian officials said seven people were wounded. Tensions were heightened following Monday night’s deadly rocket attack, which killed a 31-year-old woman. The woman was the first Israeli killed by a Qassam rocket since November.
Olmert rushed to Sderot late Monday for the second time in a week to try to calm residents.
“We will continue to invest and will continue to protect you, but you of course know that there is no immediate solution for the Qassams and there is no definitive solution,” Olmert said, according to a statement from his office.
He pledged to speed up the process of reinforcing homes to protect against the rockets. “I understand your anger, frustration and hardship,” he said.
Yesterday, the government evacuated hundreds of Sderot residents to hotels in other parts of the country for the Shavuot holiday, which was beginning at sundown. The evacuation was orderly, and Israeli soldiers helped people board the buses, shouting out orders through megaphones.
“This is really an unbearable situation. But one thing is for certain. We have to wake up the government to the fact that this is not the solution. The real solution is that the Palestinians should have to evacuate,” said Michael Amsalem, a Sderot town councilor.
