December 14th, 2005
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Attributed to "security sources"[provided by the IDF Spokesperson]

Terrorist attack at the "Karni" goods crossing thwarted by IDF forces

This afternoon, December 14th, 2005, the IDF carried out an aerial attack
against a vehicle loaded with explosives, carrying four members of the
"Popular Resistance Committees" and the "Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades" terrorist
group, who were on their way to carry out a terrorist attack at the "Karni"
goods crossing.

Hamdan Mahmad Ahmed Mahanne, 19, resident of Gaza city, is one of the
"Popular Resistance Committees" operatives who were killed in the IDF aerial
attack today, as he was making his way to carry out the attack at "Karni"
crossing. Mahanne, who worked at the "Karni" crossing, used the information
that he collected on a regular basis at the crossing in order to plan and
carry out the attack.

Although the crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip serve as a vital
factor in the daily lives of the Palestinian population, enabling the
passage of workers and merchandise, the "Karni" and "Erez" crossings have
suffered numerous terrorist attacks during the past five years.

Last Friday, IDF forces uncovered a tunnel which had been dug in the
direction of Israel, in the area of "Erez" crossing, which was several dozen
meters long and was meant for infiltrating into Israel.

The following are two central terrorist attacks carried out at the "Karni"
crossing:

On January 13th, 2005, a coordinated terrorist attack was carried out at the
"Karni" goods crossing by the "Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades", Hamas, and the
"Popular Resistance Committees". The terrorists detonated an explosive
device near the wall between the Israeli side and the Palestinian side of
the crossing, creating a large hole in the wall which enabled three
terrorists to infiltrate the Israeli side of the crossing and open fire in
all directions, murdering six Israelis and wounding five others.
Among those responsible for the attack was Hassan Mad'hun, a senior "Al Aqsa
Martyrs Brigades" terrorist who was killed in a security forces activity on
November 1st, 2005. Mad'hun led an infrastructure which focused primarily on
planning and carrying out terrorist attacks at the "Karni" and "Erez"
crossings. Following a number of attacks directed by Mad'hun, the two
crossings were closed several times during the past two years, disrupting
the daily lives of Palestinian civilians who were not involved in terror
activity.

Another terrorist attack at "Karni" crossing took place on April 15th, 2003.
A suicide bomber belonging to the "Hamas" terrorist organization entered the
crossing hidden in a merchandise crate inside the vehicle of a merchant who
had an entry permit into the area. The suicide bomber was dropped off by the
vehicle inside the crossing, armed with a handgun, hand grenades and an
explosive belt, and began to shoot and throw hand grenades inside the
crossing. The suicide bomber was shot and killed by IDF soldiers and
security guards at the crossing. Two Israelis were murdered and three others
were wounded in the attack.

In addition to these terrorist attacks, which were carried out at the
crossings themselves, terror groups have used the crossings to dispatch
terrorists into Israel to carry out attacks:

On March 14th, 2004, two terrorists, members of "Hamas" and "Fatah", carried
out a suicide bombing attack at the Ashdod port, murdering 10 Israeli
civilians and wounding 12 others. The two were concealed inside a crate with
a double panel, along with explosive devices, hand grenades and additional
equipment.

In March 1996, the Islamic Jihad terrorist dispatched a terrorist carrying a
suitcase loaded with explosives into Tel Aviv via "Karni" crossing. The
terrorist hid inside a truck which served for the transport of goods to the
crossing. 13 Israeli civilians were murdered and 125 were wounded in the
suicide bombing attack that the terrorist carried out on Dizengof Street in
Tel Aviv. Following the attack, security regulations at the crossing were
changed.

Terrorists have also commonly used trucks transporting merchandise into and
out of the Gaza Strip for the purpose of smuggling weaponry. In August 2002,
Bassel Arif, a member of the Palestinian security apparatuses, stated during
his questioning by security forces that for three years, Palestinians had
been smuggling 1,500 assault rifles and some 500,000 bullets via "Karni"
crossing.

During the past several years, terror organizations have repeatedly carried
out attacks at crossings, despite the disruption of the daily lives of
Palestinian civilians who are not involved in terror activity.