Security forces nab Hamas leader

Hamas leader's brother killed, 2 others wounded, in ensuing firefight.

By YAAKOV KATZ, AP
Elite security forces raided the Khan Yunis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip on Thursday and captured Yunis Abu Daka, a senior Hamas military wing leader. During clashes that erupted during the operation, members of the Border Police's elite counterterror unit killed Abu Daka's brother, Yousef. Backed by tanks and attack helicopters, border policemen and IDF infantry troops took up positions on rooftops, while surrounding the home in which Abu Daka was believed to be hiding. Gunmen stationed nearby opened fire, sparking a battle in which two gunmen were wounded. The raid came as Israel continued its offensive in the Gaza Strip, which it began June 28, three days after Hamas terrorists tunneled into Israel, attacked an IDF post and captured Cpl. Gilad Shalit. Israel said it would continue its offensive in Gaza until Shalit was released and terrorists ceased firing Kassam rockets. On Thursday, one Kassam landed in the Ashkelon industrial zone. No one was injured. Late Wednesday, an IDF tank fired a shell at two men who approached the Gaza border fence near Abasan, according to Palestinian Authority officials and the army. Ambulance crews found one wounded man, an Islamic Jihad operative, in the area and were searching for others. The army said soldiers identified two suspicious men crawling toward the fence, fired at them and hit them. Also Wednesday, Hossam Jaradat, leader of Islamic Jihad's military wing, was shot in the Jenin refugee camp. According to Palestinian hospital officials, Jaradat was shot in the head and seriously wounded. Islamic Jihad said it was not sure Israel was behind the shooting. The army said it had no information on the report.