Israeli tanks return to Gaza refugee camp

Palestinian security sources and witnesses said a force of about 40 tanks backed by helicopter gunships launched the new incursion overnight into the camp in the southern Gaza Strip which Israel said was aimed at demolishing tunnels used to smuggle arms from across the border with Egypt.

Medical officials said at least four Palestinians have been injured so far in the operation, which comes barely 48 hours after the army had wrapped up another raid which left eight people dead and scores more injured.

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A Palestinian was also shot dead by an Israeli soldier near the West Bank town of Hebron overnight after approaching a nearby settlement, military sources said.

Dr Ali Mussa, the head of Rafah hospital, told AFP that among the injured was a 12-year-old boy who was in a serious condition after being struck by shrapnel from a tank shell.

Locals said that three houses had been destroyed in the latest raid which began at around 3:30 am (0130 GMT).

Army helicopters could be seen swooping overhead and opened fire on a number of occasions. Israeli soldiers armed with machine-guns could be seen taking up positions in tall buildings.

An Israeli army spokesman confirmed that a new operation was underway in Rafah designed to "destroy the tunnels used by the Palestinians to smuggle illegal weapons" underneath the border between Gaza and Egypt.

During the first operation, which was codenamed Operation Root Canal, the Israeli army destroyed three tunnels but the military spokesman said that others were still intact.

"We will take as long as is necessary to complete our mission and do our utmost to avoid any damage for the civilian population," said Brigadier Eyal Eisenberg, the commander of one of the units which was taking part in the new raid.

UN officials have said that more than 1,200 people were left homeless after the first raid.

That operation was roundly condemned and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan issued a statement in which he "deplored the killing of Palestinian civilians during the Israeli incursion into Rafah."

Meanwhile Israeli military sources said that 15 Palestinian detainees were to be expelled from the West Bank to Gaza.

Another report adds: Human rights group Amnesty International on Monday condemned Israeli raids at the weekend on the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah that killed eight Palestinians, describing the operation as a "war crime".

"The repeated practice by the Israeli army of deliberate and wanton destruction of homes and civilian property is a grave violation of international human rights and humanitarian law... and constitutes a war crime," Amnesty said in a written statement issued in London.

"Amnesty International calls on the Israeli authorities to put an immediate end to the practice of destroying Palestinian homes and other properties, and of using excessive, disproportionate and reckless force against unarmed Palestinians... which frequently result in the killing and injuring of unarmed civilians, including children."