Israelis capture leading militant in refugee camp raid

ISRAELI troops with tanks and combat helicopters moved into a Gaza refugee camp yesterday, capturing a leading member of Islamic Jihad’s military wing and sparking a two-hour gun battle that wounded four Palestinians and one soldier.

Anwar Aliyan, 27, the head of Islamic Jihad’s military wing in the Palestinian-ruled town of Tulkarem, surrendered at his hideout in the local refugee camp, witnesses said.

The Israeli army said he and four others who were also arrested were planning a car bombing. It said troops blew up an explosives workshop in the town. An Islamic Jihad suicide bomber wounded 30 people in the Israeli town of Netanya last Sunday.