Israeli army foils 'divers' attack on Gaza

Israeli soldiers killed two armed Palestinians dressed in diving gear, who attempted to infiltrate a Gaza Strip settlement from the coast in the latest in a series of failed attempts to avenge Israel’s assassination of the Hamas spiritual leader.

Initially, the army said three Palestinians had been killed.

After searching the area in daylight, a spokesman said only two bodies were found near the Tel Katifa settlement.

The two militants – who opened fire on an army outpost guarding the settlement shortly before midnight – were wearing diving gear, and fins were found thrown on the coast, the army said.

The men were armed with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, the army said.

In August 2002, militants also attempted to infiltrate from the sea the Dugit settlement in the coastal strip. The militants were killed before they reached shore.

Tensions – especially in the Gaza Strip – have increased significantly since Israel assassinated Hamas spiritual leader Ahmed Yassin on Monday. The Islamic group has vowed bloody revenge, saying even Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is a target.

At the United Nations, the United States yesterday vetoed a Security Council resolution that would have condemned Israel for the assassination. The US ambassador complained that the text did not mention Hamas attacks against Israelis.

The Hamas military wing issued a rare videotaped statement yesterday, threatening retaliation against Israelis in graphic terms.

The statement pledged “a strong, earthshaking response to make the sons of monkeys and pigs taste a painful death”.

In the videotape, given to the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya TV channel, a masked man declared: “We say to the pig Sharon that we will pound your fortresses and make you curse yourself 1,000 times for merely thinking of assassinating our leaders and symbols.”

However, some Palestinians are questioning whether violent resistance has done them more harm then good.

Their economy has been decimated. Israeli checkpoints, closures and other restrictions, which Israel says are necessary to stop attackers, have made their lives miserable.

Yesterday, a group of respected Palestinians put a half-page advertisement in the PLO’s Al-Ayyam newspaper calling on Palestinians to lay down their arms and turn to peaceful means of protest toward ending Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The intellectuals who signed the ad – including peace advocate Sari Nusseibeh, lawmaker Hanan Ashrawi and Abbas Zaki, a leading member of Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement – said revenge attacks over Yassin’s assassination would lead to strong Israeli retaliation and further hurt the Palestinian cause.

Hamas claimed responsibility for the failed attack overnight, saying two of its men, aged 18 and 19, were killed in fighting with soldiers.