Israeli tanks moved into Gaza City early Friday and destroyed a police post and two other buildings. Witnesses said seven tanks accompanied three bulldozers that flattened a small Palestinian military intelligence position and a metal workshop, and then soldiers blew up another workshop in a blast that could be heard all over the city.
A fierce gunbattle broke out between Israeli troops and Palestinian fighters around al-Zeitun village near Netzarim settlement, after the Israeli incursion. Three Palestinians were wounded, two seriously, Palestinian medical and security sources told AFP. Raed Dhoun, 25, who sustained injuries to his face, and Ahmad al-Kabariti, 22, who injured in the chest, were both in serious condition, while a third person, who was hit in the leg, was moderately injured, sources at the al-Shifa hospital said.
For its part, the Israeli military said soldiers destroyed three buildings where rockets were made, blowing up 22 "Qassam" rockets in the process. Hours earlier, a rocket hit an Israeli village just outside Gaza, causing some damage but no casualties.
Meanwhile, Palestinian and Israeli officials were to meet Friday to discuss easing Israeli restrictions in the West Bank.
In Washington, Secretary of State Colin Powell said the Bush administration is reviewing Israel's use of U.S.-made weapons in the wake of the air strike in Gaza Strip. Israel had no comment, but an official told APIsrael was receiving no special treatment and had nothing to hide.
"We are constantly reviewing the manner in which equipment provided to the government of Israel is used," Powell said. The review concerns both the loss of civilian life and the tactic of targeting individuals, he said. Israel itself was looking into the incident, Powell said. (Albawaba.com)
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