16 Palestinians Killed in Gaza

An 11-year-old boy was among those killed as were two Palestinian security officers. The justification given for the operation was "continuous mortar fired towards Jewish settlements near the refugee camp."

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz has said that they have allowed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, 75, to leave his compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, for medical treatment. Arafat has not been allowed out of Ramallah past or the 2.5 years because of the Israeli blockade.