.Palestinians' new Hamas leaders vanish as Israelis advance
GAZA CITY — The Palestinian Authority has gone underground as Israeli forces have advanced 12 kilometers through the northern Gaza Strip.
Palestinian sources said the Hamas-led government has disappeared over the last two days.
"You won't find one Hamas minister either at home or in his office," a source said.
The sources said the PA has relayed orders through couriers in an effort to fight the advancing Israel Army in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli military officials said their goal was to target military systems rather than to take back territory, Middle East Newsline reported.
"The method of operation has been that of raids rather than conquest," Maj. Gen. Yoav Gallant, head of the military's Southern Command, said. "We aren't seeking territorial assets."
"Since the withdrawal, there has been a significant influx of weapons," Brig. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, head of Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, said. "So, we took all the operations, systems and techniques that the terrorists did not necessarily expect, and that's how we will continue over the coming days."
The army has begun withdrawing troops from southern Gaza Strip, military sources said. They said the military would not retain a ground force in the Palestinian Authority but prepare for frequent incursions in the Gaza Strip.
On Thursday, the PA Interior Ministry ordered security forces to fight Israeli troops closing in from northern and southern Gaza. Interior Minister Said Siyyam, regarded as close to Hamas leader Khaled Masha'al, also relayed instructions to the National Security Forces, the largest paramilitary force in the Gaza Strip.
Siyyam's instructions have not been obeyed, the sources said. The Interior Ministry controls only the 3,000-member anti-crime unit established by Hamas in May 2006.
Most of the PA agencies have been under the nominal authority of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. The sources said Abbas has opposed Siyyam's order.
PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniya has sought to demonstrate leadership during the Israeli invasion. On Thursday, Haniya, after an absence of two days, visited a hospital in Gaza City that was treating Palestinians injured in fighting with Israeli troops.
"It's a crime against humanity," Haniya said during his brief appearance.
Despite the Israeli invasion, the militia war continued in the Gaza Strip. On July 5, Hussein Ahmad Mustafa Abu Ajwa, regarded as a leading figure in Hamas, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen who drove in a car with PA government license plates.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights said Abu Ajwa was injured by gunmen who trailed his vehicle in Gaza City. The center said Abu Ajwa was forced to stop, dragged out of his car and shot dead.
On Thursday, Hamas's military wing accused a "group of traitors" of killing Abu Ajwa. The reference was to the Fatah movement headed by Abbas.
At least 30 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli military advance from the north and south of the Gaza Strip in an effort to destroy insurgency strongholds and locate an abducted Israeli soldier. Israeli military sources said Palestinian gunners have surrounded themselves with youngsters in an effort to prevent Israeli counter-fire.
"The Palestinians have been firing RPGs, automatic weapons and setting explosive charges," Lt. Col. Yaniv, a battalion commander, said.
World Tribune
Palestinian sources said the Hamas-led government has disappeared over the last two days.
"You won't find one Hamas minister either at home or in his office," a source said.
The sources said the PA has relayed orders through couriers in an effort to fight the advancing Israel Army in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli military officials said their goal was to target military systems rather than to take back territory, Middle East Newsline reported.
"The method of operation has been that of raids rather than conquest," Maj. Gen. Yoav Gallant, head of the military's Southern Command, said. "We aren't seeking territorial assets."
"Since the withdrawal, there has been a significant influx of weapons," Brig. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, head of Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, said. "So, we took all the operations, systems and techniques that the terrorists did not necessarily expect, and that's how we will continue over the coming days."
The army has begun withdrawing troops from southern Gaza Strip, military sources said. They said the military would not retain a ground force in the Palestinian Authority but prepare for frequent incursions in the Gaza Strip.
On Thursday, the PA Interior Ministry ordered security forces to fight Israeli troops closing in from northern and southern Gaza. Interior Minister Said Siyyam, regarded as close to Hamas leader Khaled Masha'al, also relayed instructions to the National Security Forces, the largest paramilitary force in the Gaza Strip.
Siyyam's instructions have not been obeyed, the sources said. The Interior Ministry controls only the 3,000-member anti-crime unit established by Hamas in May 2006.
Most of the PA agencies have been under the nominal authority of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. The sources said Abbas has opposed Siyyam's order.
PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniya has sought to demonstrate leadership during the Israeli invasion. On Thursday, Haniya, after an absence of two days, visited a hospital in Gaza City that was treating Palestinians injured in fighting with Israeli troops.
"It's a crime against humanity," Haniya said during his brief appearance.
Despite the Israeli invasion, the militia war continued in the Gaza Strip. On July 5, Hussein Ahmad Mustafa Abu Ajwa, regarded as a leading figure in Hamas, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen who drove in a car with PA government license plates.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights said Abu Ajwa was injured by gunmen who trailed his vehicle in Gaza City. The center said Abu Ajwa was forced to stop, dragged out of his car and shot dead.
On Thursday, Hamas's military wing accused a "group of traitors" of killing Abu Ajwa. The reference was to the Fatah movement headed by Abbas.
At least 30 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli military advance from the north and south of the Gaza Strip in an effort to destroy insurgency strongholds and locate an abducted Israeli soldier. Israeli military sources said Palestinian gunners have surrounded themselves with youngsters in an effort to prevent Israeli counter-fire.
"The Palestinians have been firing RPGs, automatic weapons and setting explosive charges," Lt. Col. Yaniv, a battalion commander, said.
World Tribune
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