Palestinians: We'll continue attacks

Palestinian activists unimpressed with Israeli threats to boost military operations in Strip in response to ongoing rocket attacks, vow to carry on with rocket launching; PA official says Israeli 'escalation' impedes efforts to counter firing

Ali Waked
Published: 12.23.05, 13:05 / Israel News

Regardless of the military actions Israel will take in Gaza, the Qassam fire will not stop, members of the Palestinian armed factions said Friday in response to Israel's threats it will enhance operations in the strip.

IDF's Response

Mofaz orders air strikes in Gaza / Hanan Greenberg

Israel air force to continue strikes in Gaza, defense minister orders Thursday; security officials instruct military to target Qassam launching sites with artillery fire, sabotage bridges, infrastructure; however, no ground operation planned in meantime

Full Story

Defense minister Shaul Mofaz announced Thursday that Israel plans to establish a "security strip" in northern Gaza, in order to prevent rocket attacks from a close range at communities and towns.

However, Palestinian activists said they were unimpressed by the IDF's threats, and slammed recent statements in Israel that the Gaza town of Beit Lahiya should be evacuated and bombarded.

These are racist remarks that testify to the extreme nature of Israeli government and senior officials, a PA source said.

Working to improve rockets' range

The rocket attacks on Israel will continue even if Israel invades deep into Gaza territory, members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and the Popular Resistance Committees told Ynet.

The "security strip" may impede the shooting temporarily, a senior al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades activist told Ynet, "but as we have said before, we constantly work to improve the range of our rockets, and God willing we will be able to fire at Israeli towns even if the IDF occupies this area."

A top Palestinian officer told Ynet that despite Israel's dangerous statements and plans, the Palestinians have not seen any real military activity on the ground.

"The artillery fired at Gaza is enough. The 'security strip' is not a new thing, it already exists as a by-product of these attacks. We understand that Mofaz owes such statement to his public, but I find it hard to believe that at a time of elections on both sides, the Israelis will opt for escalation that can hurt the Israeli government as well," he said.

'Israel must stop escalation'

Palestinian Interior Ministry Spokesman Tawfik abu Khoussa said he too was unmoved by Mofaz's threats.

"Who said that the 'strip' doesn't already exist? It's true that there are no Israeli forces on the ground, but the IDF's aircrafts and artillery have already turned a sizeable part of the northern strip into a 'security strip' which prevents Palestinians from running a normal routine in the area," he said.

Abu-Khoussa claimed that while the Palestinian Authority puts efforts into preventing rocket launching at Israel, the IDF's strikes work to weaken it.

"Israeli actions are what prevents us from putting an end to the rocket attacks. Now Israel must stop the escalation, the air raids and the artillery fire," abu-Khoussa concluded.

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