In a statement made by Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, the minister told reporters on Tuesday that despite Hamas claims to maintain calm, Israel would use all means necessary against Hamas and Islamic Jihad, including assassinations, and continue its recent campaign against the Palestinian factions.
The announcement came just as the Islamic Jihad joined Hamas in announcing its commitment to calm despite the recent Israeli air strikes which had killed a senior Islamic Jihad leader and targeted another.
According to Reuters, Islamic Jihad leader Khaled Al Batsh stated at a meeting in Gaza on Tuesday that "We have renewed our commitment to calm, the full meaning of calm on the condition that Israel stops its aggression against our people."
Mofaz, on the other hand, told reporters that Israeli artillery batteries were not placed outside of Gaza "for decoration," adding, "We will be the ones making the decisions. Not (Hamas leader) Mahmoud al-Zaher or anyone else."
On the ground, an Israeli military statement reported that additional 83 "wanted Islamic Jihad and Hamas terrorists" had been detained on Tuesday following army raids in the towns of Hebron, Ramallah, Jenin, Nablus and Bethlehem, bringing the total number of Palestinians detained since the weekend to 400.
Also on Tuesday, Israeli Air Force fired missiles at two Gaza Strip towns, destroying two bridges in the town of Beit Hanoun and an office and academy in the town of Khan Younis, according to eye witnesses.
The attacks, which caused no casualties, were reportedly in response to rockets which had been fired into southern Israeli territory outside the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military claims that the bridges in Beit Hanoun had been used to transports weapons.
In Khan Younis, helicopters reportedly fired two missiles, targeting the office of a man whom the Israeli military claimed worked with Hamas.
Ismail Ahmed, a resident of Beit Hanoun, told reporters that Israel "aimed to make it difficult for gunmen to transport rockets to Beit Hanoun." He added that instead, "they are making the lives of ordinary Palestinians, their movements back and forth, more difficult."
Tuesday's attacks and military raids, ordered by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, came one day after Sharon managed to defeat rival Benjamin Netanyahu as leader of the Likud party which Sharon currently heads.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
