Israeli Defense Minister Threatens Gaza Invasion

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&ncid=578&e=3&u=/nm/20030831/ts_nm/mideast_dc

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's defense minister on Sunday raised the specter of an Israeli invasion in the Gaza Strip (news - web sites), where Palestinian militants already face a deadly air campaign.


Israeli military commentators say a ground offensive in the densely populated Gaza Strip, home to more than one million people under Palestinian control, would cause heavy Israeli and Palestinian casualties.


"We always have the option of a ground operation in Gaza," Shaul Mofaz said. "We will exercise it when we decide it is right to do so, at the appropriate time."


Israel has killed 13 Palestinians, including 10 militants, in helicopter missiles strikes since a Hamas suicide bomber killed 21 people on an Israeli bus in Jerusalem on August 19.

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[Tom Yossarian Joad]

1. Breaking on CNN: Isreali Gunships firing missiles into Gaza strip

AP story so far: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=1&u=/ap/20030901/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Israeli helicopters fired at least four missiles at a car in Gaza City on Monday, killing one person and wounding at least 14 in the sixth such attack in two weeks, paramedics and witnesses said.

The target of the attack was not immediately known, but Israel has been waging war on the Islamic militant group Hamas in retaliation for a deadly suicide bombing that killed 21 people on a Jerusalem bus Aug. 19. Fourteen Palestinians, including at least 10 Hamas members, have now been killed in missile strikes.

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I guess Mofaz was issuing a warning yesterday. Sigh.