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CNN Live At Daybreak
Israeli Tanks, Troops Rolled into Gaza Overnight
Aired February 19, 2003 - 05:37 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Turning our attention now to the Middle East, Israeli tanks and troops rolled into Gaza overnight in an operation targeting terrorism.
For that story, we take you right to the heart of the conflict. Our Kelly Wallace on the phone from Gaza -- good morning, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
It's quiet at the moment, but it has been very noisy for the past several minutes. Crowds of mainly Palestinian men getting ready for the funerals of these 11 Palestinians killed. At least seven believed to be members of radical Islamic groups or Palestinian security forces. Many in the crowd members of those radical Islamic groups, as well, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
As you said, Israeli military forces say this operation was designed to go after, in the words of these officials, "the terrorist infrastructure" and also a response to the killing of four Israeli soldiers Saturday morning. That's when their tank ran over an explosive device in Gaza. That device as planted, according to the Hamas group, by that radical Islamic group.
And so you have dozens of troops and tanks moving in at (AUDIO GAP). Israelis say they also destroyed four workshops which they charged the Palestinians have been using to produce weapons such as rockets, mortar shells fired at Israelis. The Palestinians adamantly reject those charges. The Palestinians also say that at least three homes were destroyed and human rights groups have been condemning these house demolitions by the Israelis.
The backdrop to all of this, Carol, this comes as members of the Israeli leadership have been reaching out to Palestinians to talk about paving the way for a cease-fire and possible Israeli withdrawal from some West Bank towns. It's not clear at all what the overnight operation and the anger on the streets here in Gaza will mean for those continued talks -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Understand.
Kelly Wallace on cell phone from Israel this morning.
Thank you.
Be sure to check out our special report on the Middle East, "Land Of Conflict" and this latest violence in Gaza. The address, cnn.com, AOL keyword: CNN. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 19, 2003 - 05:37 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Turning our attention now to the Middle East, Israeli tanks and troops rolled into Gaza overnight in an operation targeting terrorism.
For that story, we take you right to the heart of the conflict. Our Kelly Wallace on the phone from Gaza -- good morning, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
It's quiet at the moment, but it has been very noisy for the past several minutes. Crowds of mainly Palestinian men getting ready for the funerals of these 11 Palestinians killed. At least seven believed to be members of radical Islamic groups or Palestinian security forces. Many in the crowd members of those radical Islamic groups, as well, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
As you said, Israeli military forces say this operation was designed to go after, in the words of these officials, "the terrorist infrastructure" and also a response to the killing of four Israeli soldiers Saturday morning. That's when their tank ran over an explosive device in Gaza. That device as planted, according to the Hamas group, by that radical Islamic group.
And so you have dozens of troops and tanks moving in at (AUDIO GAP). Israelis say they also destroyed four workshops which they charged the Palestinians have been using to produce weapons such as rockets, mortar shells fired at Israelis. The Palestinians adamantly reject those charges. The Palestinians also say that at least three homes were destroyed and human rights groups have been condemning these house demolitions by the Israelis.
The backdrop to all of this, Carol, this comes as members of the Israeli leadership have been reaching out to Palestinians to talk about paving the way for a cease-fire and possible Israeli withdrawal from some West Bank towns. It's not clear at all what the overnight operation and the anger on the streets here in Gaza will mean for those continued talks -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Understand.
Kelly Wallace on cell phone from Israel this morning.
Thank you.
Be sure to check out our special report on the Middle East, "Land Of Conflict" and this latest violence in Gaza. The address, cnn.com, AOL keyword: CNN. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
