In Israel, the government is promising a harsh response to a Palestinian incursion that killed two Israeli soldiers and kidnapped a third. The militants spent weeks digging a tunnel from the Gaza Strip into Israel before launching the attack. Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri called the raid a response to recent Israeli strikes that have killed Palestinian civilians and leaders in the Gaza Strip.

• Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri: “This heroic operation that took place early this morning north of Gaza Strip represents a normal retaliation on the continuos targeting of Palestinian civilians, amid the cries of the child Huda Ghaliah and in front of the killing of the two leaders Al-Kuka and Abu Samhadana. Under the continuos escalations the resistance and its operations will continue to defend our Palestinian people.”

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the Hamas operation, saying it would lead to further Israeli attacks. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he holds Abbas directly responsible.

• Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert: “We, the state of Israel, sees the Palestinian Authority headed by Chairman Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) and the Palestinian government responsible for the incident, with everything that implies.”