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Anarchy in the Palestinian Authority (PA) spread to the Rafiah border crossing, which was closed Friday morning after European Union (EU) observers fled 100 armed PA policemen who formed a blockade. The gunmen who stormed the compound belong to the unstable ruling Fatah party of PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas. One of their members was killed in a clash Thursday between terrorists. After the compound was stormed, the EU's observers stationed at the crossing quickly fled the scene in panic while the gunmen prevented vehicles from reaching the crossing. The observers are responsible for monitoring the crossing and enforcing the agreement...

The beginning of another refugee crisis? The PA is refusing to allow 2,000 Arab residents of PA-controlled Rafiah to return to their homes, preferring that they remain stuck in Egypt. The background of this harsh decision is that Israel, because of security considerations and terrorist warnings, has closed the Rafiah crossing, offering an alternative route instead. The Palestinian Authority refuses to allow the stranded people to use it. IDF Maj.-Gen. Yosef Mishlav, Coordinator of Government Activities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, opened the Nitzana border crossing, some 40 kilometers to the south, to the Arab residents as a humanitarian gesture....

(IsraelNN.com) Today is day 2 of Operation “Rainbow in a Cloud,” the IDF’s major counter-terrorism offensive in the Rafiah area of southern Gaza. Ground forces supported by armored units and aerial support continue operating, as troops conduct house-to-house searches for wanted terrorists, weapons and ammunition. Rafiah Home of the Murderer of the Hatual Family Destroyed 08:14 May 19, '04 / 28 Iyar 5764 (IsraelNN.com) IDF troops during the night destroyed the home of Ibrahim Ahmed, the Islamic Jihad terrorist responsible for the murders of Tali Hatual and her four daughters earlier this month. The terrorist’s home was located in the...

Translation from reports by me (Hebrew to English): IDF begins large scale operation in southern Gaza strip. Goals are to eliminate terrorists by capturing or killing them, targetting weapons tunnels and other terrorist structures such as bomb labs. The IDF has began to enter Palestinian Authority terrorist controlled Rafiah (Walla! News Israeli portal). Infantry forces including Givati and Golani, with Engineering Corps, covered by IDF helicopters have began to move into the town. IDF troops have been reported to have taken up positions in various buildings as well. In the opening incidents of the operation, 5 terrorists were killed by...

At least 7 Arab terrorists dead after Israeli Air Force strike on Palestinian Authority terrorist-regime controlled Rafiah Israeli military officials said that the long arm of the IDF will reach those responsible for the deaths of the 5 IDF soldiers today. They decided on immediate counter-terror measures.

(IsraelNN.com) PA officials report a Rafiah resident was killed and seven of his family members injured in an explosion in their home. The cause of the blast appears to be a mystery at this time.

Oct. 16, 2003 Suspect of smuggling weapons 'commissioned by PA' arrested By JPOST.COM STAFF On Thursday, the Shin Bet released for publication its arrest of a PA security official suspected of smuggling ammunition from Egypt to Gaza Strip, allegedly for such high ranking officials as former PA security minister Muhammad Dahlan. The man, Akhram Tubassi, a member of the Palestinian Coast Guard, was detained by the Shin Bet on October 7th. He confessed to purchasing weapons in Egypt, commissioned by senior officials of the PA security system. The connection to Dahlan is still under investigation. To smuggle the weapons, Tubassi...

Feb. 12, 2003 Gaza terrorist planned to bomb hospital helicopter pad, Negev tour bus By THE JERUSALEM POST INTERNET STAFF Israeli security services today revealed the arrest of a Palestinian from southern Gaza with links to Palestinian Authority chief Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, who planned to set off a bomb on a helicopter pad at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba and attack a tour bus in Mitzpe Ramon. Ala'ah Sheich Ale'id, 23, of the southern Gaza town of Rafiah, along the Egyptian border, was arrested in December, a government statement said. News of his arrest was only released for publication today....