Israel Cracks Down on Hamas
CBNNews.com
May 18, 2007
CBNNews.com - Israeli jets pounded Hamas targets in the Gaza strip today, as Israel retaliates for a barrage of rocket attacks on Israeli towns.
"We're not just attacking real estate. We want to make Hamas pay for the terror," the Jerusalem Post quoted one high ranking Israeli Defense Forces officer.
Since the beginning of the week, Hamas has fired more than 70 rockets near the town of Sderot. Thousands of residents have left the town and dozens have been wounded or treated for shock.
In Gaza, fighting among Palestinian Hamas and Fatah factions has killed at least 46 people. Another 17 are dead from Israeli air strikes.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas canceled a trip to Gaza Thursday because of fears he would be assassinated.
Israel hopes to avoid a ground operation in Gaza, which could lead to a war with Hamas.
On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's promise of a "harsh and severe" response to the attacks gained momentum Thursday afternoon as the Israeli Air Force launched several simultaneous air strikes on Hamas operatives in Gaza, effectively marking the end of the policy of restraint in place since November.
Meanwhile, Hamas has vowed to continue its rocket attacks.
Israeli officials say they will keep up the air strikes as long as they have to.
The Jerusalem Post quoted government spokeswoman Miri Eisen as saying, "Israel will take every defensive measure to stop these rocket attacks. We will defend our citizens against the rockets, against the weapons, against the Iranian-backed Hamas who are attacking Israel."
Sources: CBN News, Jerusalem Post, The Associated Press
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