Israel threatens to send troops to snub Hamas
One killed by Israeli missiles in Gaza
AP, Jerusalem
Israel is prepared to send an infantry brigade into the Gaza Strip to stop Hamas rocket fire, Israel's army chief was quoted as saying yesterday as troops critically wounded a 15-year-old Palestinian in a clash with stone-throwing youngsters. Israeli leaders have repeatedly threatened tougher action to stop rocket fire from Gaza. Fighting has escalated there in the past two weeks, with Israel killing 10 Hamas operatives and a bystander in five missile attacks, and Hamas firing mortars and rockets toward Israeli communities. Also Monday, more than 1 million Palestinian youngsters in the West Bank and Gaza returned to classes. The Israeli military eased restrictions in some of the reoccupied West Bank towns to allow students to get to school. In the city of Nablus, hundreds of students threw stones at tanks and jeeps in several locations. Troops fired tear gas, rubber bullets and also live rounds to disperse the crowds, witnesses said. In one incident, a Palestinian threw a firebomb at a tank near the main square, where about 70 stone throwers were assembled. The top of the tank caught fire, said Palestinian rescue worker Ala Aratrut, who witnessed the incident. "A soldier from inside the tank began shooting randomly. The top of the tank was going round while the shooting went on," Aratrut said. A teenage boy fell to the ground after being shot in the head, the rescue worker said. Doctors said the boy, age 15, was in critical condition. The Israeli military had no immediate comment. Israel's Cabinet convened Monday, and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told ministers that there will be no letup in the campaign against Hamas and other militant groups. "We are continuing our operations against Hamas and other terror groups to prevent them from harming Israel's citizens," he said. Meanwhile, Israeli helicopters fired at least four missiles at a car in Gaza City on Monday, killing one person and wounding at least 14 in the sixth such attack in two weeks, paramedics and witnesses said. The target of the attack was not immediately known, but Israel has been waging war on the Islamic militant group Hamas in retaliation for a deadly suicide bombing that killed 21 people on a Jerusalem bus Aug. 19. Fourteen Palestinians, including at least 10 Hamas members, have now been killed in missile strikes.
| 
