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Israel hits Gaza
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ISRAEL yesterday intensified its armed campaign against the Palestinians with helicopter attacks and raids into Palestinian areas, saying it will hold on to some territory indefinitely "for military reasons".
In what has become systematic operations under hard line Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the Israeli army continued its bombardments, shelling the Khan Yunes refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip, wounding four Palestinians, hospital officials and witnesses said.
Troops also staged a brief new raid into an area under Palestinian control, destroying houses in the town of Qarara near Khan Yunes, the Palestinian Wafa news agency said.
Late on Wednesday, Israeli helicopter gunships pounded Palestinian security buildings at another Gaza refugee camp and in the West Bank town of Jenin, wounding 14 civilians, security and medical sources said.
Israeli forces also conducted five raids into Palestinian land in Gaza in violation of the 1993 autonomy accords and international law, Palestinians said.
But unlike past incursions, which ended within hours, the Israeli army announced it planned to stay indefinitely in some captured houses.
The Palestinians accused Israel of terrorizing the population with its invasions.
"All of these acts prove Israel's intentions to reject every effort that may help improving the peace process. The daily killings of Palestinians are a phenomenon of Israeli occupation," Palestinian national security commander Haj Ismail told Voice of Palestine radio. (SD-Agencies)
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