Raid “successful” — Sharon
And, undeterred by US criticism, Sharon said there would be more such operations.
The Palestinians said all the dead were civilians, while the military said most were armed men who died in battle.
"The operation was a successful operation," Sharon said.
"This operation was complicated, it was a difficult operation. There will be more operations in Gaza," he said.
The army said the raid on Kahn Younis was meant to give Hamas notice that it could no longer feel safe in Gaza, where Israel had been reluctant to stage large operations.
The US said it was "deeply troubled" by raids on Palestinian areas that killed civilians.
The criticism included the usual affirmation that Israel had the right to defend itself, but in ways that did not harm civilians.
With Israel threatening more raids, Hamas was also embroiled in a blood feud with the Palestinian police that killed five people yesterday a Palestinian police colonel and four Hamas supporters.
The colonel, who headed the Palestinian riot police, was kidnapped and killed by about 20 Hamas gunmen.
The main suspect is Emad Akel, a Hamas activist from the Nusseirat refugee camp, whose brother, Raed, was killed a year ago by Palestinian riot police dispersing student protests at a Gaza City campus.
A battle erupted later yesterday between Hamas gunmen and police trying to arrest two suspects in Gaza City.
Two Hamas supporters were killed and 10 bystanders wounded.
A few hours later, Emad Akel set up a mourning tent for his brother something the family had sworn it would only do once revenge had been taken. The tent was erected on a main road near the Nusseirat refugee camp.
Police arrived to disperse the crowd at the tent, and another gun battle ensued. Two more Hamas supporters were killed and 18 people were wounded.
Hamas leaders portrayed the feud as a personal dispute between activists, but the clashes threatened to spiral into a full-blown confrontation between Hamas and the Palestinian security services.
Sharon said he was scaling back a visit to the US next week because of the tense security situation in the Middle East.
He has dropped a meeting with Jewish leaders in New York, but will still hold talks with President George W. Bush at the White House on October 16.
One Israeli was later killed and three wounded when gunmen opened fire on their car as they drove through the West Bank near Hebron.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Palestinian militants have targeted Jewish settlers on West Bank roads.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
