Israel is at maximum state of alert; armed men attack targets in Gaza, al-Ranteisi succeeds Yassin
Palestine-Israel, Military, 3/24/2004

News reports in Gaza said that witnesses reported that strong explosions were heard in Beit Hanoun to the north of Gaza followed by a move by tanks towards the source of the fire. On Monday evening several Israeli tanks and armored vehicles broke into Beit Hanoun in an attempt to prevent launching the hand- made Qassam missiles at Israeli cities and settlements.

Palestinian activists on Monday evening fired missiles towards Israeli settlements in Gaza following the assassination of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, the founder of the Islamic Hamas resistance movement and the Israeli tanks retaliated the fire.

Israel has tightened its closure of the territories of the West Bank and Gaza and imposed tough security measures in the occupied territories and other Palestinian lands and put its security forces in the utmost state of alert in precaution of Palestinian attacks in revenge of the assassination of Sheikh Yassin.

News reports also added that there are vast deployment for the Israeli police forces and border guards inside the green line and the surrounding and entrances of the occupied lands as well as in buses and trade centers.

The reports added that the occupation forces cancelled leave licenses in both the army and police for one month, adding that the Israeli streets are almost empty.

On the other hand, the Hamas movement announced that the leading figure in the Movement Abdul Aziz al- Rantesi was chosen as its leader in Gaza following the assassination of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, in succession of its founder Sheikh Ahmad Yassin who was killed together with other 9 in a missile bombardment carried out by Israeli war planes after he had his dawn prayers.

According to Hamas's constituent, the key figure Khaled Mashaal presides over the meeting in his capacity as a chairman for the Movement's political bureau.

In Israel, the Israeli defense minister Shaoul Mofaz stressed continued policy of assassination to weaken Hamas. He explained that Sheikh Yassin was a "strategic enemy for Israel" and therefore it was necessary to get rid off him."

Previous Stories:
  Sharon: we will fight terrorism every where   (3/23/2004)
  Five Israelis were stabbed in Jafa and Ramat Ghan   (3/23/2004)
  One Israeli killed in Jerusalem; One Palestinian killed, occupation forces re-incur into Gaza   (3/20/2004)
  Israel refuses burying Abu al-Abbas in Ramullah   (3/15/2004)
  Egypt rejects to administer Gaza's security after the Israeli withdrawal   (3/9/2004)

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