Interior Ministry, Fatah offices in Gaza hit by Israeli airstrikes
{{date|June 30, 2006}}

The [[w:Israel Defense Forces|Israeli Defence Forces]] have carried out 5 to 8 air strikes targeting the office of the Palestinian interior ministry's headquarters occupied by the governing party [[w:Hamas|Hamas]] in [[Gaza]] and an office of President [[Mahmoud Abbas]]'s [[w:Fatah|Fatah]] party in Gaza, [[Palestine|Palestinian]] and [[Israel]]i sources say. 

Israel claims its ongoing [[w:Operation Summer Rains|Operation Summer Rains]], which began early on June 28, is in response to the capture of Israeli soldier [[w:Gilad Shalit|Cpl. Gilad Shalit]] by Palestinian militants.

There were mixed reports of casualties from the air strike, although one source said a member of [[w:Islamic Jihad|Islamic Jihad]] had been killed in the air strikes. Television images showed emergency crews responded to the attacks.

The Israeli military said the ministry office, controlled by Hamas, was "a meeting place to plan and direct terror activity." In addition, an Israeli official stated to the [[w:Associated Press|Associated Press]] that the attacks will only end when the captured Israeli soldier is unconditionally freed.

Days after the initial raid reports from Israeli officials stated that they had found the body of 18-year-old Eliyahu Yitzhak Asheri who was kidnapped by the Palestinian ruling party, Hamas, and shot in the back of the head on Sunday.

In his first appearance since the raid began, Palestinian PM and leader of the Hamas organization, [[w:Ismail Haniya|Ismail Haniya]] denounced the raid saying it was a "premeditated plan" to bring down the new Hamas government. He accused Israel of hiding behind Cpl. Shalit to carry a "systemic campaign" against Hamas.

== Related news ==
*{{wikinews|title=Hamas strikes deal with Fatah|date=June 27, 2006}}
*{{wikinews|title=Israeli soldier taken captive|date=June 26, 2006}}
*{{wikinews|title=Israel Defense Forces attack Gaza Strip|date=June 28, 2006}}

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3269269,00.html|title=Interior Ministry in Gaza hit by IAF missiles|author=Hanan Greenberg|pub=Ynet News News|date=June 30, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3269378,00.html|title=Shalit’s father: Give us sign of life|author=Sharon Roffe-Ofir|pub=Ynet News News|date=June 30, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3269293,00.html|title=Hamas official: Arrests a signal to kill Shalit|author=Ronny Sofer|pub=Ynet News News|date=June 29, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3269418,00.html|title=Qassam lands in Ashkelon|author=Shmulik Hadad|pub=Ynet News News|date=June 30, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3269183,00.html|title=IDF delays entry into northern Strip|author=Hanan Greenberg|pub=Ynet News News|date=June 29, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5131404.stm|title=Israel strikes hit Gaza targets|author=|pub=BBC News|date=June 30, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://us.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/06/29/israel.soldier/index.html|title=Artillery and warplanes pound Gaza|author=|pub=CNN|date=June 30, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,201637,00.html|title=Israeli Jets Attack Palestinian Interior Ministry|author=|pub=Fox News|date=June 30, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20060630/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians_325|
title=Israel hits ministry; Hamas offers soldier|author=Ravi Nessman, Associated Press|pub=Yahoo! News|date=June 30, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/06/28/israel.soldier/index.html|title=Settler's body believed found|author=|pub=CNN|date=June 29, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5132514.stm|title=Palestinian PM condemns Gaza raid|author=|pub=BBC News|date=June 30, 2006}}

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[[Category:Gaza Strip]]
[[Category:Israel]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Palestine]]
[[Category:Hamas]]
[[Category:Israel Defense Forces]]
[[Category:Fatah]]
[[Category:Palestinian Islamic Jihad]]
The Israeli Defence Forces have carried out 5 to 8 air strikes targeting the office of the Palestinian interior ministry's headquarters occupied by the governing party Hamas in Gaza and an office of President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party in Gaza, Palestinian and Israeli sources say. 

Israel claims its ongoing Operation Summer Rains, which began early on June 28, is in response to the capture of Israeli soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit by Palestinian militants.

There were mixed reports of casualties from the air strike, although one source said a member of Islamic Jihad had been killed in the air strikes. Television images showed emergency crews responded to the attacks.

The Israeli military said the ministry office, controlled by Hamas, was "a meeting place to plan and direct terror activity." In addition, an Israeli official stated to the Associated Press that the attacks will only end when the captured Israeli soldier is unconditionally freed.

Days after the initial raid reports from Israeli officials stated that they had found the body of 18-year-old Eliyahu Yitzhak Asheri who was kidnapped by the Palestinian ruling party, Hamas, and shot in the back of the head on Sunday.

In his first appearance since the raid began, Palestinian PM and leader of the Hamas organization, Ismail Haniya denounced the raid saying it was a "premeditated plan" to bring down the new Hamas government. He accused Israel of hiding behind Cpl. Shalit to carry a "systemic campaign" against Hamas.
Gaza Strip Israel Middle East Politics and conflicts Palestine Hamas Israel Defense Forces Fatah Palestinian Islamic Jihad