Palestinian sources in south Gaza said at least six militants were killed during the IDF operation that began at dawn Tuesday. At least one more militant was killed during the army's activity in the northern Strip last night.
During the operation about 40 Palestinians were questioned, and some of them will be transferred to security forces inside Israel for further interrogation.
Barak at Navy base (Photo: Ariel Hermoni)
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said during a visit to a Navy base in Haifa that "IDF forces will continue to operate in Gaza during the night to thwart the firing and manufacturing Qassam rockets and mortar shells.
"The public should know that as we are lighting the Hanukkah candles – IDF fighters are working in Gaza day and night so we can light them in peace," he said.
Senior IDF officials said the operation in Gaza does not indicate a change in policy and is defensive in nature. Some 270 terrorists have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of 2007, the IDF said.
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, denounced the IDF's activity in the Strip, saying Israel was looking to undermine the peace negotiations even before they begun.
"Israel's insistence to continue and pursue the targeted killings policy and the new settlements add to the doubts regarding Israel's intentions," he said.
Ali Waked contributed to the report