Ground Troops Enter Gaza, Strip Shelled With Artillery
Troops Take Control of Airport, Open Areas East of Rafah
IDF tanks and troops rolled into southern Gaza before dawn Wednesday, encountering little resistance from Palestinians, in a bid to pressure Palestinian militants into releasing an Israel Defense Forces soldier seized Sunday in an attack on a military position near the Gaza border.
The operation, dubbed “Summer Rain,” was launched after two days of failed mediation over the release of Shalit. Defense sources told Army Radio on Wednesday morning that the Gaza incursion is the first stage of the operation.
Olmert said. “We do not intend to reoccupy Gaza. We do not intend to stay there. We have one objective, and that is to bring Gilat home”
IDF troops penetrated one kilometer into the southern Strip, deploying tanks and armored vehicles in open areas east of the border town of Rafah, including the disused international airport at Dahaniyeh, Gaza’s only airport.
According to information gleaned by the Palestinian Authority, Shalit is being held in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in southern Gaza. His captors may be considering moving him elsewhere, possibly to the Jabalya refugee camp, on the outskirts of Gaza City in the northern Strip.
IAF aircrafts also attacked a Gaza City power station after midnight Tuesday, cutting power to much of the area, Palestinian security officials said.
For additional background and video coverage, click Footage: IAF Attacks, Gaza Plunges into Darkness
Gaza Power Station Out for Two Weeks
Update: No Solid Information on Whereabouts of Cpl. Shalit
Full Text;
Contrary to the implication of earlier reports, the IDF does not have solid information regarding the whereabouts of kidnapped soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit, an IDF spokesperson said. However, military intelligence is operating based on an assumption regarding a likely area for his captors to have taken Shalit – southern Gaza.
In the IDF, there is concern that the terrorists will attempt to smuggle their captive into the Sinai, which is under Egyptian control, or to other, unknown, destinations. To prevent such a possibility, the IDF reinforced its southern Gaza-area force deployment and sent unmanned spy aircraft into the air over Gaza.
Aaron Lerner of IMRA comments on an earlier report of the IDF Intelligence Officer saying; Thanks to Gaza Retreat MIA is a Bribe Away From Reaching Beirut?and more;
Thanks to the retreat from the Gaza Strip Israel was unable to rapidly deploy forces in a band extending from the (now abandoned) Philadelphi Corridor deep enough to put border smuggling operations at a temporary standstill. Instead all that Hamas has to do to deal with the Egyptian presence on the border is to pay the requisite bribes required in order to move Shalit into Sinai and from there to waiting transportation. Given that the operation was planned out in considerable detail it is possible that all of this transpired even before the Israeli navy went on alert.
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For more background, click here.