GAZA, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- Israeli troops made an incursion in north Gaza as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice toured the Middle East in a fresh effort to revive the peace process.
A Palestinian police spokesman said tank-backed Israeli troops rolled into Beit Lahya, in the north of the strip, in the early morning hours under heavy fire cover from a hovering helicopter gunship Tuesday and took up positions in the area.
Similar massing of troops was reported east of Beit Hanoun, also in north Gaza, where a large number of Israeli tanks took up positions on strategic hills two days ago.
The invading troops opened fire at Palestinian population centers, setting ablaze a textile factory in the industrial zone of Beit Hanoun.
Several days ago, Israeli Army Chief of Staff Dan Halutz threatened to wage a large-scale operation in Gaza to silence the firing of locally-made rockets by Palestinian militants at Israel, especially the town of Sederot.
In another incident Tuesday, Apache helicopters attacked a blacksmith's workshop in the city of Khan Younes, south Gaza, killing one Palestinian and injuring another.
Security sources said the helicopters fired two rockets at the workshop, which Israel claimed was being used to manufacture rockets.
Meanwhile, Rice ended a visit to Saudi Arabia and headed to Egypt Tuesday as part of a regional tour to reactivate the deadlocked peace process.
An official Saudi statement said the government hopes a new thrust will be given to the peace process, leading to the creation of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
It said effective steps should be taken to propel peace efforts, including lifting the economic and financial siege imposed on the Palestinians and ending Israel's continuous violations of Palestinian territories.
