An Israeli patrol clashed with a saboteur gang near the Lebanese border today, killing one and driving the rest back into Lebanon. It was the third such encounter this week. There were no Israeli casualties. Security forces announced the arrest of six Arab terrorists in the southern section of the Gaza Strip including one regional commander. The gang is believed to be implicated in the murders of a number of Arab civilians in the area around Khan Yunis. The leader was identified as Abd Sarai, said to be the regional commander of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in the Gaza Strip. An Army spokesman said today that Israeli forces foiled a recent attempt to smuggle arms into the Gaza Strip by sea. Two men were arrested and a boatload of weapons and ammunition from Beirut was confiscated. Twelve Arab workers from Gaza were injured this morning when their bus hit a mine south of the town. They were on their way to jobs in Israel. Security forces are investigating the incident.
The situation on the Lebanese border is believed to be heating up after a prolonged lull during the recent civil war in Jordan. A military spokesman said the gang involved in today’s clash left behind bazooka shells, ammunition, explosive charges and activating devices indicating that they were on a sabotage mission. The dead saboteur was wearing the uniform of Al Saiqa, the Syrian-backed guerrilla organization. Israeli authorities believe the Lebanese government is fully capable of controlling guerrilla activities and may issue a new wanting to Beirut if they continue. A military tribunal in Gaza pronounced life sentences on two Arab terrorists today and sentences ranging from two to 20 years on nine others. All were members of a terrorist cell responsible for a variety of crimes including murder, rape, kidnapping and sabotage. Life imprisonment, the maximum penalty under Israeli law. was imposed on Ahman Ibrahim el Giatti, 23 and Aliyan Abu Attaya, 22. They were accused, among other things, of firing on an Israeli patrol wounding two soldiers.
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