ISRAELI TROOPS ENTERED THE GAZA STRIP BEFORE DAWN SATURDAY TO ARREST TWO MEMBERS OF THE HAMAS GROUP BEFORE PULLING OUT OF THE AREA IN ONE OF THE FIRST INCURSIONS INTO THE PALESTINIAN-CONTROLLED AREA SINCE WITHDRAWING LAST SUMMER, THE ISRAELI ARMY SAID. THE TROOPS CARRIED OUT THE PINPOINT OPERATION MEANT TO PREVENT THE TWO HAMAS MEMBERS FROM CARRYING OUT A LARGE ATTACK AGAINST ISRAEL IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND WITHDREW FROM THE AREA, THE ARMY SPOKESMAN WAS QUOTED AS SAYING BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. THE HAMAS GROUP CONFIRMED THE INCURSION, SAYING TROOPS ENTERED THE SOUTHERN GAZA STRIP, EAST OF THE TOWN OF RAFAH, ABOUT 700 METERS (YARDS) TO STORM A HOUSE, MAKE THE ARRESTS, AND THEN WITHDRAW. THEY STAYED IN FOR ABOUT AN HOUR BUT WERE STILL LOCATED NEAR THE BORDER LATER IN THE MORNING, THE GROUP SAID.
