Israel Captures Hamas Founder, 8 Killed in Raid

One of the victims, a 33-year-old pregnant woman, was killed by debris after Israeli troops blew up a suspected militant’s house in the Bureij refugee camp. Palestinian hospital and security officials said soldiers also killed a 13-year-old boy, a policeman, a Hamas member and two civilians. It was not clear if two other men killed in the raid had been armed.

The raid culminated in the arrest of Mohammed Taha, 67, who helped create the political arm of Hamas in 1987. Hamas has taken responsibility for dozens of attacks against Israelis during the renewed 29-month-old Palestinian intifada, or uprising.

“The soldiers crept into our house without anyone knowing. They beat my father and took him into custody as he fainted,” Taha’s son Hassan told Reuters news service.

Palestinian witnesses said 35 tanks and other armored vehicles raided the camp in the evening and left at dawn. Israel said those numbers were exaggerated. An Israeli brigade commander told Israel Radio he had no information about civilian casualties but that many armed men were killed.

The incursion comes after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon promised to deal more harshly with Hamas and other Islamic military groups. Due to January election results, Sharon now leads a more conservative government with many prominent politicians calling for heavier crackdowns in the Palestinian territories.

The Palestinian Authority meanwhile said Israel is using the diversion of a possible U.S.-led war against Iraq to step up military operations in the Gaza Strip.

The Bureij refugee camp deaths inspired funeral marches that turned into rallies against Israel. “Bombings are the only option,” chanted thousands of mourners who took to the streets.

Hours later, a makeshift Qassam missile hit a highway junction near Sharon’s ranch and another landed in the southern town of Sderot. No one was injured.

At least 1,888 Palestinians and 706 Israelis have been killed since the intifada began in September 2000.