Military

DATE=01/26/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS

NUMBER=2-298806

BYLINE= LARRY JAMES

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Israeli forces have withdrawn from Gaza City after an overnight raid by tanks and helicopters that Palestinians say killed 12 people and wounded at least 50 others. Larry James reports from Jerusalem.

TEXT: Palestinians say at least two dozen Israeli tanks and armored vehicles backed by helicopter gunships had moved into Gaza City from three directions late Saturday.

It is the deepest incursion into Gaza's main population center since the Palestinian uprising began 28 months ago.

Israeli officials say their forces returned fire after coming under heavy attack by Palestinian rifle and anti-tank fire. Israel says the city is a stronghold of Hamas militants plotting suicide attacks against Israeli civilians.

Palestinians say Israeli troops blew up metal workshops during the raid. Israel says the shops are used to make rockets and other weapons for attacks on Israeli civilians.

News agencies quoted a senior official of the militant Hamas group as vowing to, in the words of Abdel Aziz Rantisi, 'shed Jewish blood in Jaffa and Tel Aviv' to avenge the Gaza raid.

The incursion comes as Israel prepares for elections Tuesday, which Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is favored to win. Mr. Sharon has taken a hard-line stance against the Palestinian intifada.

NEB/LDJ/MAR