GAZA - Israel sent tanks and troops into three Palestinian towns in Gaza yesterday, killing three policemen, after threatening to carve "security zones" in Palestinian areas to put its cities out of range of a new longer-range missile.
The night-time invasions of Deir al-Balah, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya clamped an Israeli ring of armour around the northern Gaza Strip.
An Israeli Army spokesman declined to comment, but a Palestinian security spokesman said: "Israeli occupation forces are conducting a full-scale raid in the northern Gaza Strip. The occupation forces have almost reoccupied Beit Lahiya and are advancing into Beit Hanoun."
Palestinian officials said three policemen died in Deir al-Balah, further south, when an Israeli bulldozer destroyed their position.
Residents of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya spoke of dozens of Israeli armoured vehicles, including tanks, entering the towns.
At least five tanks, three jeeps and a bulldozer moved into Deir al-Balah to kick off the offensive, said residents, who reported sporadic exchanges of gunfire.
Earlier, Israeli forces entered areas near the West Bank towns of Hebron and Ramallah, killing a man the Army identified as a Palestinian gunman and arresting 12 suspected militants.
- REUTERS
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Israel tanks clamp ring of steel inside Gaza
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