International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, Nov. 18, 2002

Operating on information gleaned from an arrested Palestinian weapons manufacturer in Gaza, IDF forces raided the Gaza City headquarters of the Palestinian Authority's Preventative Security service late Sunday night and uncovered a deadly arsenal of weapons allegedly being distributed to area terror militias.

Based in part on intelligence gathered from Yusef Magdad, a Gazan arrested several days ago for involvement in the production of rockets and mortar shells, Israeli troops and tanks, backed by IAF helicopters, moved on the PA security headquarters in crowded Gaza City late last night before withdrawing safely.

The anti-terror sweep resulted in the seizure of Kassam missiles, anti-tank rockets, mortar launchers and mortars, anti-tank grenades, landmines and other weapons from inside the PA security compound. An explosives laboratory and welding equipment were also found in the headquarters.

The IDF commander in Gaza, Brig.-Gen. Yisrael Ziv, said the massive amounts of war materiel discovered in the compound were for use against the IDF and settlers. He said that recent arrests and the operation overnight provided "solid evidence that instead of blocking terrorism, the organization [PA Preventative Security] initiates and manufactures terrorism."

Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told reporters on Monday that last night's incursion further proved the strong connection between PA security forces and the Palestinian terrorist militias operated by Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

During his questioning, Magdad had told Israeli security officials that PA security officers supervised a series of weapons factories, which have produced thousands of mortar shells and anti-tank grenades. He said the PA distributed the weapons to the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations, adding that he had personally witnessed PA security officers firing mortar shells at Israeli communities in Gaza alongside Hamas activists.