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Gang of 17 Saboteurs Rounded Up in Gaza Strip; Arms Caches Discovered

December 31, 1968
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Israeli security forces announced today the capture of 17 saboteurs responsible for a rash of shootings, grenade and mining incidents in the Gaza Strip and the arrest of 30 other persons suspected of sheltering them. Large quantities of fire arms, ammunition and explosives were uncovered in the saboteurs’ caches.

A military spokesman reported the fatal wounding of an Arab saboteur who took part in an attack on an Israeli police patrol guarding the Machpela Cave (Tomb of the Patriarchs) in Hebron last night. In the Beisan Valley last night four rocket shells were fired from a 130mm. Katyusha launcher at Neve Urr settlement. The rockets landed in a field and caused no casualties or damage. No damage was caused by a hand grenade thrown in the center of Gaza township last night.

According to a military spokesman, the round-up of the Gaza saboteurs resulted from the capture and interrogation of a terrorist earlier this month. The gang is held responsible for mining railroad lines and highways, throwing hand grenades at military vehicles and planting bombs in public places in Gaza. Arms discovered included two 81 mm. mortars, 13 shells, five bazookas and five homemade bazookas, three Semyonov sub-machine guns, three Guryanov machine guns, hand grenades, mines and demolition equipment. A curfew was imposed on Hebron following last night’s attempted attack on the Machpela Cave by a gang of saboteurs. The gang was driven off leaving behind one man who later died of his wounds.

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