~*~ The Chanukah War ~*~
IDF begins shelling northern Gaza for 1st time since op began
Reports say the artillery units are attacking targets in northern Gaza, where Palestinian terrorists often fire rockets at southern Israel.

by Jpost Staff and AP, Jerusalem Post
January 3, 2009

A soldier covers his ears as an IDF artillery unit fires.
Photo: AP [file]
 

For the first time since the start of Operation Cast Lead, the IDF began firing artillery shells into northern Gaza on Saturday afternoon.

Reports say the artillery units are attacking targets in northern Gaza, where Palestinian terrorists often fire rockets at southern Israel.

The IDF wouldn't comment on the reports.

TV commentators said the artillery fire is a strong indication that Israel is preparing a ground attack.

Meanwhile, Israel struck over 25 targets in overnight sorties, including a mosque in northern Gaza and the home of senior Hamas commander Abu Zacharia Al-Jamal.

Palestinians sources claimed 10 people were killed when IDF artillery shells struck a mosque in Beit Layhiya. It was unclear whether an artillery shell or an IAF missile was in fact what penetrated the mosque.

The report said that the strike occurred while the worshipers prayed inside of the mosque.

The Jerusalem Post could not confirm the report.

Earlier, a Hamas spokesman announced that al-Jamal was killed in the attack. He was the third senior operative in the group to be targeted in the past three days.

In the morning attacks, the army struck the homes of two Hamas operatives, saying the buildings were used to store weapons and plan attacks. Hamas outposts, training camps and rocket launching sites also were targeted, it said.

The army also struck the American International School, the most prestigious educational institution in Gaza. The school is not connected to the US government, but teaches an American curriculum in English.

The airstrike demolished the school's main building and killed a night watchman. Two other Palestinians were killed in a separate airstrike, while three others died of wounds sustained earlier, Gaza health officials said.

Early Saturday, the army dropped leaflets in downtown Gaza City ordering people off the streets. The warnings were followed by the airstrikes.

Hamas declared also on Saturday that its members had foiled an attempt by IDF special forces to infiltrate the Gaza Strip, Israel radio reported.

According to the report, a number of IDF soldiers were spotted in the outskirts of Gaza's Shajaiyeh neighborhood close to the border with Israel. Hamas claimed that the soldiers retreated after they were targeted by six mortar shells.

The IDF denied the report, telling Army Radio that "this incident never happened."

Earlier on Friday night, a Hamas television station said that the IAF on bombed an airport in the Gaza Strip. One person was reported dead in the attack, and five wounded.