Israelis are to step up operations against civilian infrastructure belonging to Hamas in West Bank in breach of a truce already agreed on.
According to Ha’aretz, Israeli forces will soon shut down a large number of Hamas-affiliated charities, confiscate their property, and search computers and documents that detail their activity.
The forces have been carrying out similar raids in the al-Khalil, Qalqilyah and Ramallah areas since the beginning of the year, but the operations will now be expanded to additional parts of the West Bank.
Israeli authorities including prime minister Ehud Olmert and war minister Ehud Barak have approved the plan to target Hamas civilian infrastructure.
Hamas-affiliated institutions that were targeted so far include schools, health centers, charities, and even soup kitchens and orphanages. Dozens of associations were shut down and the food confiscated.
An Egypt mediated truce between Israel and Gaza fighters came into effect on June 19, under which Israel promised to stop attacks on Gaza and ease the blockade in exchange for an end to the retaliatory homemade rocket attacks on Israelis.
But Palestinians say the Israeli regime has broken the Gaza truce more than 28 times since it went into force two weeks ago.
MSH/BGH
Abufazl 