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August 31, 2006: - Palestinian terrorists fire five Qassam rockets at the Israeli city of Sderot - damaging buildings and causing numerous residents to suffer from shock. - IDF forces shoot dead Fadi Kafisha, a manufacturer of bomb vests for Fatah suicide terrorists in Nablus. A second armed Palestinian accompanying Kafish is also killed. - Palestinian sources report that Raad Nahal, commander of the PRCs Salahadin Battalions in N. Gaza, has been shot dead by unidentified assailants. The group, along with Hamas, kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilead Shalit on June 25. (DebkaFile, August 31, 2006). August 30, 2006: On August 27th 2006, following intricate and ongoing intelligence-gathering activity by the IDF and ISA, security forces were able to uncover the location of a tunnel dug from within the Gaza Strip in the direction of the Karni crossing. The tunnel was intended to be used to carry out a large-scale terror attack, apparently against the crossing itself. Forces uncovered the shaft (13 meters depth) and main infrastructure (150 meters length) of the tunnel. The tunnel entrance was found inside a house in the residential area of Sajaiya. IDF forces are operating in order to collapse the tunnel. Due to the many security alerts regarding the intentions of terror organizations to carry out an attack on the crossing, the crossing has been intermittently closed over the past months as part of the activity to thwart such attempts. The Karni crossing is one of the main lifelines of the Palestinian population- allowing the passage of merchandise and medical supplies in and out of the Gaza Strip. Its targeting by the terror organizations, along with other crossings such as Erez and Kerem Shalom, is a deliberate attempt by terrorists to weaken the Palestinian economy. The targeting of these crossings which are reopened again and again after attacks is a cynical exploitation of the Israeli effort to ease the daily lives of Palestinian civilians who are not involved in terror activity. It should be noted that despite the uncovering of this particular tunnel, the threat of terror against the crossing still exists. ("Tunnel intended for terror attack uncovered near Karni crossing,"IDF Spokesperson's Office, August 30, 2006). August 29, 2006: Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin tells the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Palestinian terrorist organizations are studying the Lebanese-Israeli war. Diskin also notes the West Bank has become increasingly violent, especially in the area of Samaria. Following last summer's withdrawal from the four communities in northern Samaria, the intelligence community has found it difficult to control the area and gather information. "Samaria has become the land of Islamic Jihad following the disengagement." Weapons smuggling through the Rafah crossing has increased exponentially since the pullout, Diskin warns, adding that "Rafah will soon be the garden of Eden of weapons smuggling." At least 15,000 guns, 4 million bullets, 2,300 pistols, 38 rockets, dozens of anti-tank missiles, 15 tons of TNT, 400 RPGs, and 10-15 Katyushas have been smuggled into Gaza from Egypt thus far. After three to five years of this kind of weapons transfer, Israel will face a situation similar to south Lebanon. "At this point, anybody who wants to smuggle something through the Philadelphi route can apparently do so," Diskin said. "You can smuggle anything through Philadelphi except maybe a tank or plane." (Sheera Claire Frankel, "Diskin: Weapons Smuggling Into Gaza Has Skyrocketed," Jerusalem Post, August 29, 2006). August 29, 2006: - IDF forces fire at two Palestinian terrorists in Gaza armed with an anti-tank missile. - IDF forces fire a Palestinian crawling near the Gaza border fence. - IDF forces fire a tank shell at three Palestinian terrorists spotted planting an explosive device in Gaza. - The IAF targets armed Palestinian terrorists in Gaza. - IDF forces kill two Palestinian al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terrorists during an exchange of fire in the Balata refugee camp (West Bank). ("IDF Kills Six Palestinians, Including Three Militants," Reuters, August 29, 2006). August 28, 2006: - The IAF kills four Palestinian terrorists in the Sajaiyeh neighborhood of Gaza City. PA sources note that two of the men were members of Force 17 and two were Hamas security force members. - Hamas operatives shoot and kill a Palestinian passenger riding in a car near the (Gaza) town of Khan Younis. (Hana Levi Julian, "IAF Air Strikes Kill 4 in Gaza, PA Police Kill 1," IsraelNationalNews, August 28, 2006). August 27, 2006: IDF forces fire at three armed Palestinian terrorists in the Sajayieh area of Gaza. One Hamas terrorist is killed. ("Armed Terrorists Targeted in Gaza," IsraelNationalNews, August 27, 2006). August 26, 2006: Palestinian terrorists fire a Qassam rocket that impacts near the border fence south of Nahal HaBasor in southern Israel. Damage is reported. ("No Injuries in Kassam Rocket Attack," IsraelNationalNews, August 26, 2006). August 24, 2006: - IDF forces identify two suspected Palestinian terrorists approaching the security fence in central Gaza, just south of the Kissufim Crossing. The soldiers open fire, wounding one. - IDF forces cross into the southern Gaza Strip (Absan) to apprehend a Hamas terrorist leader. - The Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group claims responsibility for firing a Qassam rocket at the Israeli city of Ashkelon. - 50 masked Palestinian terrorists detonate a landmine near the concrete wall marking the Gaza-Egypt border. ("IDF Engages Two Suspects Near Gaza Security Fence," IsraelNationalNews, August 24, 2006; Avi Issacharoff, "IDF Raids S. Gaza; Hamas: Local leader Nabbed in the Offensive," Ha'aretz, August 24, 2006; Avi Issacharoff, "Jihad Fires Qassam at Ashklelon, Says Revenge for Militant's Death," Ha'aretz, August 24, 2006). August 23, 2006: Approximately 1,300 Egyptian police officers fan out across the country’s border with Gaza after warnings that Palestinian Authority terrorists are planning to cross into Egypt. The Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) terrorist organization issued a threat that it would "act when the time is right" if the Rafah border crossing is not reopened by Wednesday. According to the London-based Arabic newspaper al-Quds al-Arabi, some 750 Egyptian border guards were already in place when the warning was made known. They were joined by more than 500 addition police officers. ("Egyptian Police Fan Out Across Gaza Border," IsraelNationalNews, August 23, 2006). August 21, 2006: - Fearing Palestinian terrorist infiltrations, Cairo deploys 1,300 policemen along the border with Gaza. The additional policemen will join 750 Egyptian border guards who deployed a year ago after Israel withdrew its forces from the area. - Armed clashes between rival Palestinian clans leave one person dead and four others injured in Rafah and Khan Yunis. ("Egypt Fears Terrorists From Gaza, Beefs Up Border Force," IsraelNationalNews, August 21, 2006; "One Dead, 4 Injured in Arab Clashes in Gaza Area," IsraelNationalNews, July 21, 2006). August 20, 2006: Shin Bet Chief Yuval Diskin warns during a government meeting that "the intensification of terror sources in Gaza is a strategic problem which, if not treated properly, will result in a reality like in Lebanon. We don't have to wait three years and then launch investigations." Diskin notes that the "Philadelphi Route [has been] breached, and recently a number of tons of explosives and hundreds of weapons have entered. Recently, USD 1.5 million has been smuggled in through Rafah by the Hamas Agriculture Ministry, and terror experts have also entered." The Shin Bet chief also recommends reviewing all agreements on the passages, which he said "are ineffective in actuality under Egyptian monitoring." "In Judea and Samaria Hizbullah is smuggling in money in large sums and encouraging terrorist attacks against Israel. Nasrallah is perceived as a national hero among terror organizations, and they are attempting to learn from him. They understand the power of the antitank missile and guerilla fighting, as using underground bunkers..." (Ilan Marciano, "Diskin: Gaza could become Lebanon," YnetNews, August 20, 2006). August 20, 2006: Four Palestinians are killed in Jenin and the town of Kufr Laqif, near Qalqilya, in incidents of misuse of weapons. ("Palestinians Die Preparing Bomb and in Clan Clash," PCHR, August 20, 2006). August 20, 2006: - Palestinian terrorists fire two Qassam rockets that impact in the western Negev. - IDF tank fire wounds four members of a terrorist Qassam rocket cell near the border fence separating Israel and the Gaza Strip. The IDF said the shell was fired at the Palestinians near the Kissufim border crossing, but not before the gunmen managed to fire two rockets at Israel. - IDF forces arrested a senior Hamas legislator, the second arrest in as many days of the terrorist organization's leaders suspected of being involved in security violations. Troops surrounded the home of Mahmoud Al Ramahim, secretary general of the Hamas-led legislature in the Palestinian Authority (PA). He has evaded arrest since Hamas terrorists kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit almost two months ago. No word has been heard on his fate. On Saturday, the IDF arrested the deputy prime ministers of the Palestinian Authority (PA). - IDF forces at the Tzofim checkpoint exchange gunfire with Palestinian terrorists in the Kalkilya area. (Aaron Lerner, "Palestinian Fire Rockets from Gaza Within Minutes of Report They Not Shooting," IMRA, August 20, 2006; " IDF Arrest Senior Hamas Government Official," IsraelNationalNews, August 20, 2006; "Gunfire at Tzofim Checkpoint," IsraelNationalNews, August 20, 2006; Amos Harel, "IDF Tank Fire Wounds Four Members of Qassam Rocket Cell in Gaza Strip," Ha'aretz, August 20, 2006). August 18, 2006: A Palestinian terrorist shoots and kills an IDF soldier east of the West Bank city of Nablus. The gunman fired toward a group of soldiers from a distance of 10 meters near the Bekaot checkpoint on the road linking the Jordan Valley to Nablus. IDF soldiers returned fire, killing the terrorist. Medical crews pronounced the victim dead at the scene. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack. (Amos Harel, "Palestinian Gunman Kills IDF Soldier in Jordan Valley," Ha'aretz, August 18, 2006). August 18, 2006: The IAF targets a Palestinian weapons storehouse in Gaza City. ("IAF Targets Gaza Weapons Center," IsraelNationalNews, August 18, 2006). August 17, 2006: - An elite Israeli police unit kills two wanted Palestinian terrorists near the West Bank city of Bethlehem after a nearly two-hour standoff. An IDF spokeswoman said the two Islamic Jihad members were shot and killed after they resisted arrest and opened fire on the soldiers. Palestinian security sources and witnesses said that more than 50 soldiers were involved in the operation, hiding in a cave near a village east of Bethlehem when the Israeli force surrounded them. The IDF said they were armed with assault weapons and hand grenades. - In Gaza, IDF forces shot at two Palestinians in a no-man's land by the security fence. Palestinian medics said they had found the body of a gunman in Gaza from the Islamic Jihad group, north of the Karni commercial crossing between the coastal strip and Israel. Another Palestinian was wounded, they said. - The bodies of three Hamas terrorists are brought to a hospital in the West Bank town of Jenin. Palestinian security officials note that one had an explosives belt strapped to his body when it accidentally went off, killing him and the other two men. The incident occurred near the village of Deir Ghazallah. (Amos Harel, "Palestinian Gunman Kills IDF Soldier in Jordan Valley," Ha'aretz, August 18, 2006). August 16-17, 2006: - The IAF targets a Gaza City weapons center. - One man is killed and four others injured when IDF soldiers destroy a Gaza house in which weapons were stored by Palestinian Authority terrorists. ("IAF Hits Gaza City Weapons Center," IsraelNationalNews, August 17, 2006; "IDF Kills At Least 1, Wounds 4, Destroys Gaza Weapons Cache," IsraelNationalNews, August 16, 2006). August 16, 2006: IDF forces shoot two armed Palestinian attempting to infiltrate into Israel from the Gaza Strip. ("IDF Shoots Infiltrators from Gaza," IsraelNationalNews, August 16, 2006). August 15, 2006: - IDF forces exchange fire with Palestinian terrorists in central Gaza, east of Khan Yunis. - The IDF Spokesperson's Unit announces the capture of Tanzim terrorist Muhammed Zohir ali abu Atiya. - IDF troops surround a "safe house" in which Ahmad Nadi (a wanted Al Aksa Martyrs Brigade terrorist) is hiding. Other wanted terrorists are cornered in a second building, both in the Askar neighborhood of Nablus. - Palestinian terrorists fire Qassam rockets from northern Gaza against southern Israeli communities. Two rockets land in open areas near Kibbutz Nahal Oz. ("Gunfire in Central Gaza," IsraelNationalNews, August 15, 2006; "IDF: Tanzim Terrorist Caught in Ramallah," IsraelNationalNews, April 15, 2006; "IDF Corners al-Aksa Terrorists in Shechem," IsraelNationalNews, August 15, 2006; "Kassam Fire Aimed At Nahal Oz," IsraelNationalNews, August 15, 2006). August 14-15, 2006: - The IAF targets an Islamic Jihad terrorist command center in Gaza. - Palestinian terrorists ambush a car carrying a Fox News crew in Gaza City and kidnap two of the journalists inside. ("IAF Strike on House in Gaza Wounds Nine People," Associated Press, August 15, 2006). August 14, 2006: Palestinian terrorists fire two Grad-type (Katyusha) missiles at Ashkelon. (Avi Issacharoff, "IDF Kills 3 Palestinians After Islamic Jihad Missiles Hit Ashkelon," Ha'aretz, August 15, 2006). August 13, 2006: - Palestinian terrorists hurl an explosive device at IDF forces operating in Nablus. - Palestinian terrorists fire at IDF forces patrolling the Gaza Strip border fence. Soldiers return fire. ("Arab Terrorists Attack IDF Force in Shechem," IsraelNationalNews, August 13, 2006; "Terrorists Open Fire at Soldiers in Gaza," IsraelNationalNews, August 13, 2006). August 10, 2006: Yisrael Beitenu party Chairman and MK Avigdor Lieberman warns that Hamas is planning to alter the way it is waging war on Israel’s southern front – based on the Hizbullah model. According to Lieberman, the PA is preparing to wage a war on southern Israel modeled on the Hizbullah military strategy against communities in northern Israel. Lieberman also notes that PA terrorists are "smuggling Katyushas and Grad missiles into the Gaza Strip. The southern Lebanon script must be prevented in southern Israel." Two Katyusha missiles have already been fired toward Israeli towns from Gaza - one in March and another in May. (Hana Levi Julian and Nissan Ratzlav-Katz, "Lieberman: Hamas Plans Southern War on Hizbullah Military Model," IsraelNationalNews, August 10, 2006). August 9-10, 2006: - The IAF targets a Beit Hanoun home, destroying an Islamic Jihad Islamic Jihad weapons cache. - The IAF targets a Palestinian terrorist training camp. - Palestinian terrorists fire a number of Qassam rockets at the Israeli city of Sderot. (Avi Issacharoff, "IAF Destroys Gaza Home of Jihad Militant After Warning Residents," Ha'aretz, August 10, 2006). August 8, 2006: - Israeli security forces discover a pipe bomb in the town of Keidar, near the city of Ma’alei Adumim, located close to Jerusalem. - A wanted Hamas terrorist is arrested by Israeli security forces in Beit Jala, north of Bethlehem. - IDF artillery fires at northern Gaza in response to a Qassam rocket attack. Earlier in the day, a rocket impacted near Miflasim in the western Negev. ("Pipe Bomb Defused Near Ma’ale Adumim," IsraelNationalNews, August 8, 2006; "Hamas Fugitive Arrested North of Bethlehem," IsraelNationalNews, August 8, 2006; "IDF Artillery Responds to Kassam Rocket Attack," IsraelNationalNews, August 8, 2006). August 6, 2006: - Israeli Border Police forces eliminate an Islamic Jihad terrorist during a firefight northwest of Jenin. - Israeli security forces operating near Nablus apprehend two suspects and two bomb belts. According to reports, one of the would-be bombers, a female, was on her way to perpetrate an attack in the Greater Tel Aviv area. ("Border Police Kill Islamic Jihad Terrorist Near Jenin," IsraelNationalNews, August 6, 2006; "Two Bomb Belts Apprehended on Saturday Night," IsraelNationalNews, August 6, 2006). August 6, 2006: Palestinian Authority (PA) president Mahmoud Abbas praises Hizbullah terrorists shortly after the lethal Katyusha rocket attack on northern Israel that killed 12 Israelis. He told reporters after arriving in Yemen that the Hizbullah war has re-wakened the Arab world with honor and is an example for others to follow. ("Abbas Praises Hizbullah," IsraelNationalNews, August 6, 2006). August 3-4, 2006: - The IAF launches a series of air strikes in the Gaza Strip that target Palestinian terrorists. An IDF statement said ground forces had targeted the area, on the outskirts of the city of Rafah, to destroy "terrorist infrastructure." - IDF troops backed by armoured vehicles carry out house-to-house searches in Rafah. - Two air raids elsewhere in Gaza destroys buildings used by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. (Avi Issacharof, "IDF Wounds Four Palestinians During Operations in Gaza," Ha'aretz, August 4, 2006). August 3, 2006: IDF forces intiate Operation Horizon in the southern Gaza Strip. The forces advance about eight kilometers into Gaza, taking control of the main highway and blocking the eastern entrance of Rafah. 8 armed Islamic Jihad terrorists carrying RPG's near the Dahaniya Airport are hit in four air strikes. At least three are killed. (Efrat Weiss, "IDF Launches Wide-Scale Operation in Southern Strip," YnetNews, August 3, 2006; "IAF Kills Three Gunmen in Gaza," Jerusalem Post, August 3, 2006). August 2, 2006: The IDF targets a number of Hamas weapons storage facilities in Gaza. ("IDF Attacks Weapons Storage Facilities in Gaza," IsraelNationalNews, August 2, 2006). August 1, 2006:
- IDF infantry and armored units operate in the Dahaniyeh area of southern Gaza, with military officials explaining the operation is focused at eliminating the weapons tunnel network in the area. - IDF forces direct artillery fire at Qassam rocket launching areas in northern Gaza. - Two Palestinian terrorists plant an explosive device along the security fence in the Jenin area. Soldiers inspecting the area report light damage to the fence. - Palestinian terrorists fire at IDF forces north of Palestinian Authority (PA) controlled Nablus. No injuries are reported. Palestinian terrorists also fire at IDF forces near PA-controlled Tulkarem. ("IDF Working to Eradicate Tunnel Infrastructure in Gaza," IsraelNationalNews, August 1, 2006; "Bomb Detonated Near Partition Fence in the Jenin Area," IsraelNationalNews, August 1, 2006; "Soldiers Uninjured in Shooting Attacks," IsraelNationalNews, August 1, 2006). [Archive]
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