Israeli official orders troops to Gaza
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-24 17:01

Gaza Strip - Israel's defense minister ordered ground forces to the Gaza border on Saturday and vowed a "crushing" response to Hamas rocket fire on Israeli towns overnight, a security official said.

Shortly after Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz gave the order to deploy troops, witnesses reported three large explosions in Gaza City and said they saw an Israeli aircraft overhead at the time. Ambulances raced to the area.

Mofaz said Israel might resume targeted killings of Palestinian militants.

Mofaz decided on the troop deployment after consulting with his security chiefs, the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to report on the contents of the meeting. Thousands of soldiers received call-up notices, and their leaves were canceled, the officials said.

Israel Radio said Mofaz also decided to continue targeting Hamas militants from the air.

In a first response Saturday, Israel fired missiles at several suspected Hamas weapons workshops in Gaza and sealed the West Bank and Gaza.

The overnight rocket barrage was the first since Israel pulled out of Gaza nearly two weeks ago. Israel has said it will display "zero tolerance" for attacks on its towns after the withdrawal.

The forces would concentrate opposite northern Gaza, from which 21 rockets were fired at Israeli border towns overnight, the official said.