In Gaza City, Hamas officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that 16 members were arrested Thursday by Palestinian police. None of the senior members of the group were among those taken into custody.
Despite the Israeli warnings and the arrests by the Palestinian police, none of the Hamas leaders appeared to be taking special precautions. One leader, Mahmoud Zahar, a lecturer at Gaza City's Islamic University, said he was busy preparing for weekend exams, and two others — Ismail Abu Shanab and Abdel Aziz Rantisi — said they had scheduled back-to-back media interviews.
Three men were posted outside the Gaza City home of Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin, including his son Mohammed. Yassin's son said his father was inside but was not received visitors, and that he planned to leave to attend the wedding of one of his seven daughters later in the day.
According to AP, the arrests of the 16 Hamas members appeared to indicate that Arafat is responding to growing U.S. pressure to take action against Palestinian activists. Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said that the Palestinian Authority "has already taken some measures to control the security situation."
Many Palestinians expected Israeli forces to go into action in the Gaza Strip after Israeli media said the bomber who killed 15 people at a billiard hall Tuesday was thought to have come from there. "Target Gaza," read a banner headline in the Israeli Maariv daily. The Israeli military confirmed that it was calling up reservists, but would not say how many.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres said Thursday afternoon that Israel does not intend to conquer the Gaza Strip. Peres said the Israeli army would target “terrorist” facilities in the Strip on a limited, short-term basis.
"The intention is reach the places where there are concentrations ... of suicidal terror operatives," Peres told Army Radio.
Opposition leader MK Yossi Sarid (Meretz) warned against sending the Israeli army into Gaza Strip. According to Sarid, the entrance of troops into the Strip would be a serious mistake that Israel would regret.
In a related development, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher warned Israel against invading the Gaza Strip. "We warn Israel against doing such a thing," Maher said. He added that Israel's offensive in the West Bank, which began March 29, did not yield results.
"I can't imagine Israel will throw itself in this (Gaza) situation ... I can't imagine it will be allowed," Maher said.
In the West Bank, Israeli troops stormed into the eastern part of the Tulkarem refugee camp, Palestinians said. The soldiers attempted to capture senior wanted Hamas man Muamar Shahrouri, Israel Radio reported.
Troops have reportedly surrounded the building in which Shahrouri was believed to have sought shelter. An Israeli air force helicopter hovered above the area also fired a number of shots, Palestinians reported. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
