Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian
The military is surrounding Beit Hanoun "from all directions," IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin says in a press conference after five troops were killed in an ambush in the northern Gaza town last night. "Beit Hanoun is a fortified area, where dozens of terrorists still remain. There are still many underground tunnels that we must demolish," he says. "We will continue to attack and clear the area to remove the threat to the residents of the western Negev," Defrin says, noting that Beit Hanoun overlooks several border towns, including Sderot, and a train line.