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Tensions in Gaza escalate

DUBAI: Tensions in Gaza are escalating rapidly after Israeli aircraft and troops killed nine Hamas activists in an apparent retaliation to Monday’s suicide bombing in the strategic Israeli town of Dimona.

The Israeli planes raided a Hamas-controlled police station east of the town of Khan Yunis in Gaza. Seven Hamas members were killed in the strike and several more wounded. Two Hamas activists were earlier killed in a fire fight with Israeli troops near the Rafah border with Egypt.

The attacks took place amid a series of Qassam rocket firings from Gaza. Israeli media reports say a teenage girl was injured in a rocket attack in southern Israel.

Analysts point out that Israeli defence circles are not ruling out a full-scale ground invasion of Gaza, in case the violence persists. Hamas supporters say such an eventuality is possible as the U.S. President George Bush has given his approval for Israeli operations in Gaza during his recent visit to Israel.

The Iranian conservative daily Kayhan pointed out that, “Without any doubt, the green light that [Mr.], Bush showed to the Israeli regime’s leaders during his recent trip to the Middle East [West Asia] region and the occupied Palestine has added to the intensity and magnitude of the violent clashes and the tightening of the siege of Gaza.”

Analysing the Israeli response to the Dimona bombing, the Palestinian daily, Al-Quds Al-Arabi said the infiltration of the two suicide bombers in the town had taken the Israelis by surprise. Dimona is the centre of the Israeli nuclear industry. “For these two commandos to be able to infiltrate its security fence and reach its heart is a major accomplishment that will raise the concerns of the Israeli security bodies,” it said.

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