IDF targets Gaza vehicle; 2 killed

Army strikes in Gaza: Air Force fires several missiles at vehicle apparently carrying Islamic Jihad members belonging to Qassam rocket launching cell; at least two Palestinians killed, one critically wounded. PM Sharon congratulates army chief, orders sustained pressure on terror groups

Gaza strike: The Air Force fired several missiles at a car traveling in Gaza's Jabaliya refugee camp Monday evening, killing at least two Islamic Jihad members apparently belonging to a Qassam rocket launching cell.

A third Palestinian sustained critical injuries and according to some reports succumbed to his wounds. Sources in the Strip said two passersby were also hurt in the strike.

The army targeted the vehicle, carrying members of the Jihad's al-Quds Brigades, around 9:30 p.m. Monday. Palestinian sources identified those killed as Sa'id Abu Jidian and Akram Ghadash, Jidian's deputy.

Following the strike, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon phoned Army Chief Dan Halutz, congratulated him for the successful operation, and asked "not to let off from the terror activists in Gaza and in Judea and Samaria even for a moment."

During the conversation, Sharon asked that an emphasis be put on operation "Blue Skies" aimed at creating an "aerial siege" over Qassam rocket launching sites in the northern Gaza Strip.

Sharon's associates are currently concerned about a new terror wave originating in the Gaza Strip, after Palestinian groups said the lull in violence has ended. According to information presented to the prime minister, security forces are dealing with 10 specific Islamic Jihad terror warnings.

Security officials said Monday's strike targeted Jidian, 30, who led a Qassam cell and was also involved in planning other attacks. Jidian was held in an Israeli prison from February 1997 to October 2002 over his Islamic Jihad activity, the sources said. Upon his release, he continued his involvement in terror activity and became one of the Jihad's senior members in the northern Gaza Strip.

"This crime will not be ignored and the occupiers must prepare for responses from the Islamic Jihad's military wing," he said.

Earlier, a local Jihad commander, Abu al-Walid, confirmed the identity of the two killed Palestinians and said the latest strike would not put an end to the group's attacks.

Meanwhile, the IDF Spokesperson's Office issued a statement following the strike, confirming the army was behind the targeted assassination.

"In an operation by the security forces this evening in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, the Air Force struck at a vehicle carrying a senior member of the Islamic Jihad terror organization who is responsible for rocket fire at Israeli territories in recent weeks," the army's statement said.

Notably, the Islamic Jihad recently announced that it was no longer committed to the lull in violence, although in practice the organization never stopped its attacks on Israeli targets.

Recently, the IDF boosted its anti-terrorism operations and targeted killings of terror suspects in the wake of ongoing rocket attacks on Israeli targets.

Ali Waked, Hanan Greenberg, Ronny Sofer, Efrat Weiss, and AP contributed to the report

ob. car swarm pictures:

Palestinians gather around the wreckage of a car after it was hit by an Israeli missile strike in the northern Gaza Strip near the Jebaliya refugee camp, Late Monday Jan. 2, 2006. Two Islamic Jihad members were killed when their car exploded near the zone where Israel has banned Palestinians near the border. A third occupant of the car was wounded along with two bystanders, hospital officials said. The Israeli military had no immediate comment, but Israel Radio said it was a targeted killing aimed at militants. An Islamic Jihad leader said one of the dead was a senior field commander in the group, and the other was his aide.(AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

Palestinians jump on a car damaged after an Israeli missile strike in northern Gaza Strip January 2, 2006. Two Palestinian militants were killed in an Israeli missile strike on a car in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday, Palestinian medics said. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Palestinians gather around the wreckage of a car after it was hit by an Israeli missile strike in the northern Gaza Strip near the Jebaliya refugee camp, late Monday Jan. 2, 2006. Two Islamic Jihad members were killed when their car exploded near the zone where Israel has banned Palestinians near the border. A third occupant of the car was wounded along with two bystanders, hospital officials said. The Israeli military had no immediate comment, but Israel Radio said it was a targeted killing aimed at militants. An Islamic Jihad leader said one of the dead was a senior field commander in the group, and the other was his aide.(AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

A Palestinian shouts slogans as he stands on the wreckage of a car after it was hit by an Israeli attack in the northern Gaza Strip near the Jebaliya refugee camp, late Monday Jan. 2, 2006. Two Islamic Jihad members were killed when their car exploded near the zone where Israel has banned Palestinians near the border. A third occupant of the car was wounded along with two bystanders, hospital officials said. The Israeli military had no immediate comment, but Israel Radio said it was a targeted killing aimed at militants. An Islamic Jihad leader said one of the dead was a senior field commander in the group, and the other was his aide.(AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

Palestinians inspect a car damaged after an Israeli missile strike in northern Gaza Strip January 2, 2006. Two Palestinian militants were killed in an Israeli missile strike on a car in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday, Palestinian medics said. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

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