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More Palestinians Killed, Israeli Tanks Return to Gaza StripThursday 14 Feb 2002
author: Palestine Chronicle
summary
After leaving the area for a few hours, Israeli tanks have returned to the Palestinian town of Deir Al-Balah. The raid late Wednesday comes after a day of Israeli incursions in several areas of the Gaza Strip, that left six Palestinians dead. More than 20 Palestinians were also detained.
More Palestinians Killed, Israeli Tanks Return to Gaza Strip
Wednesday, February 13 2002 @ 09:49 PM GMT
By PalestineChronicle.com Reporter
DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip: After leaving the area for a few hours, Israeli tanks have returned to the Palestinian town of Deir Al-Balah. The raid late Wednesday comes after a day of Israeli incursions in several areas of the Gaza Strip, that left six Palestinians dead. More than 20 Palestinians were also detained.
Israel warned it will continue these operations for as long as it takes to "root out Hamas militants" who made and fired longer range rockets from Gaza into Israel on Sunday.
The Qassam-2 rockets, which have a range of five to eight kilometers, exploded harmlessly in farmland.
Hamas says it has the right to acquire whatever weapons it can to combat Israel's superior firepower.
Earlier, three Palestinian policemen were killed at their post in Deir al-Balah when Israeli tanks shelled the post. Two civilians were killed in Beit Hanoun, including one 19-year old who was shot in the head and chest.
Israeli troops carried out house-to-house searches in the villages of Deir al-Balah, Beit Lahia, and Beit Hanoun.
According to witnesses, tanks have entered villages and refugee camps, causing destruction to roads, fields, and homes.
Palestinian sources report that Israeli forces searched and then destroyed a Fatah office building and another civilian institution building in Beit Hanoun, using explosive charges to completely destroy the structure. Israeli forces remain in Beit Hanoun, and military sources report that more operations will be conducted over the next few days.
In the West Bank, Israeli troops have tightened the closure around the northern cities of Nablus and Tulkarm.
Israeli security sources believe that the Kassem-2 rocket could be launched from these areas toward Israeli cities in the north.
While carrying out operations on the ground throughout Palestinian areas, security officials are trying to alter the procedures for administrative detainees in order to make it easier for Israeli forces to detain Palestinian suspects.
Administrative detention allows Palestinian suspects to be held in prison without being formally arrested or charged. The individual can be held for up to three months, but that sentence can be renewed indefinitely. During the first Intifada, thousands of Palestinians were held in Israeli prisons under administrative detention.