| Five Palestinian militants have been killed | | | | |
| in three separate Israeli air strikes in the | | | | Tuesday, Israeli border police arrested the |
| Gaza Strip. | | | | head of Force 17, Palestinian President |
| | | | Mahmoud Abbas' personal protection service, |
| Israeli officials say they targeted militants | | | | saying he had been wanted for six years for |
| trying to enter Israel, near a crossing point | | | | carrying out terrorist attacks. |
| in Gaza, and other Hamas militants who were | | | | |
| traveling in a car laden with explosives. Noa | | | | Israeli military forces re-entered the Gaza |
| Meir - a spokeswoman for the Israeli Defense | | | | Strip in late June, after Palestinian |
| Forces - says no particular Palestinian group | | | | militants abducted an Israeli soldier in a |
| was targeted. | | | | raid on a Gaza border outpost. |
| | | | |
| "It is not a matter of targeting Hamas, per | | | | Wednesday, Israeli newspapers report defense |
| se, but of targeting these terrorists and | | | | officials are concerned that Palestinian |
| Hamas are these terrorists. The first attack | | | | militants are trying to obtain advanced |
| was against a Hamas terrorist cell on its way | | | | Russian-made anti-tank missiles. The missiles |
| to carry out attacks against Israel," she | | | | were used by Hezbollah militants in Lebanon |
| said. "There were secondary explosives from | | | | during the recent conflict there with deadly |
| their car, indicating they were on their way | | | | effectiveness. Israeli military authorities |
| to commit this attack. The second was against | | | | say the bulk of their casualties in Lebanon |
| terrorists who were involved in planning | | | | were caused by the missiles, which can |
| terrorist attacks in the past and in the | | | | penetrate heavy armor and reinforced concrete |
| future." | | | | structures. |