Sharon gives free hand to security forces

Israel, threatening a major ground offensive into Gaza, gave a free hand to security forces to stop Palestinian cross-border rocket salvoes yesterday.

Troops and tanks massed in preparation for an attack, but Israeli political sources said they were unlikely to move before US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits to try to salvage a crumbling five-month-old ceasefire.

The worst surge in bloodshed since the truce was agreed has threatened to hamper Israel's withdrawal from Jewish settlements in occupied Gaza, starting next month, and amplified doubts over prospects for peacemaking.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said he had instructed the army "to act without limitation to stop the strikes on Israeli communities" after rocket and mortar salvoes continued despite an appeal by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

In the southern Gaza Strip, Saeed Seyam, a commander of the Hamas group that is behind much of the rocket fire, was killed with a single bullet fired from a nearby settlement.

His father said he had been going to water the garden. The army said it had killed him as part of a revived assassination policy.

"Hamas will not stand handcuffed against the new crime," said spokesman Mushir Al-Masri.

Troops also said they killed a gunman nearing a settlement in central Gaza. There was no Palestinian confirmation.

In northern Gaza, an Israeli aircraft fired missiles at a car carrying three Hamas militants leaving a site in Beit Lahiya used to fire rockets at Jewish settlements, witnesses said.

The militants jumped out but one was wounded by shrapnel, witnesses and medics said. The Israeli army had no comment.

Palestinian mortars injured six Israelis in southern Gaza settlements. Hamas said it had fired them in retaliation for the killing of Seyam, its ninth loss in the latest upsurge.

Soon after, witnesses said two Palestinians were injured by tank fire.

Troops, tanks and armoured vehicles have massed ready for an offensive into the Gaza Strip, and discussion of when it could begin dominated Mr Sharon's Cabinet meeting.

But political sources said Israel was likely to give Abbas more time to bring Palestinian attacks to a halt. "There are signs that the situation could be defused," said one.

Egyptian officials met Hamas leaders in Gaza to try to shore up the truce. Ms Rice is due in the region at the end of the week.

Washington wants to preserve the ceasefire and supports Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, seeing it as a possible springboard to renewed talks on its road map peace plan.