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Airstrikes take out power in Gaza

An Israeli soldier stands on top of an armored carrier as he takes part in morning prayers at a staging area near Kibbutz Mafalsim, just outside the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Ibrahim Barzak Associated Press
An Israeli soldier stands on top of an armored carrier as he takes part in morning prayers at a staging area near Kibbutz Mafalsim, just outside the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Israeli aircraft unleashed a barrage of missiles early today and fired artillery into the Gaza Strip for the first time, pushing forward with an offensive despite a pledge by Islamic militants to halt their recent rocket attacks against Israel.

Renewed fighting that entered its fifth day today has compounded Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s political problems. The violence had been expected to harm Sharon’s chances in a vote Monday in the ruling Likud Party, where hard-liners hoped to punish him for the Gaza withdrawal.

Sharon’s narrowly won that challenge, but an advisor said Tuesday he still may bolt the party if it refuses to support his political program.

The Israeli airstrikes early today knocked out power throughout nearly all of Gaza City. The army said it targeted three buildings used for “terror activity” by the ruling Fatah Party, as well as two smaller armed groups. Palestinian security officials said there were no injuries.

Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said the army would attack Palestinian militants relentlessly to force them to stop firing rockets at Israeli towns.

The fifth straight day of airstrikes came hours after Islamic Jihad militants on Tuesday declared a halt to their recent rocket attacks, and armed Palestinian groups pledged to honor a tattered cease-fire, seeking to end the Israeli offensive.

Tensions were further inflamed when Hamas militants released a video showing a bound and blindfolded Israeli businessman whom they kidnapped and later killed. The kidnapping appeared to signal a new tactic in the militants’ fight against Israel.

Israel launched its offensive early Saturday in response to rocket fire from Gaza. It has carried out numerous airstrikes in Gaza and arrested hundreds of Palestinians in the West Bank, saying the operation will continue until the rocket attacks stop.

Israeli security officials welcomed the cease-fire declaration but said they wanted to see concrete results before halting the offensive. As the militants were meeting, a rocket landed in the southern Israeli town of Sderot, causing no damage or injuries, the army said. No one claimed responsibility for the attack.