Overnight, the IDF sends tanks and bulldozers into Gaza to reoccupy a mile-wide strip of PA-controlled territory in the northeastern corner of Gaza, marking the 1st reoccupation of territory ceded to Palestinian rule under the 1993 Oslo accords. The IDF demolishes PA security sites targeted on 4/16, builds ramparts, sandbags positions around new tank outposts. IDF officials pledge to hold the land "as long as it takes--days, weeks, months"--to ensure Israeli security. Secy. of State Powell publicly rebukes Israel for taking "excessive and disproportionate" action, calls on Israel to withdraw immediately. Bush calls Sharon to urge restraint. Hrs. later, Israel announces that the IDF has completed its mission and is pulling out of area. (AP, LAW, MM, REU 4/17; JP [Internet], NYT, WP, WT 4/18; HJ 4/18, AYM, MENA, al-Quds, SA 4/19 in WNC 4/24; MM, WJW 4/19; JP, MEI, MM, NYT, WP 4/20; NYT 4/22; AYM 4/27 in WNC 4/30)
Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue elsewhere in Gaza and the West Bank, leaving 3 Palestinians dead. The IDF cuts a deep trench in the main north-south road in Gaza, rendering it impassible; shells residential areas of Aida and al-Aza refugee camps, Bayt Jala, Hebron, Rafah; bulldozes 30 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Qalqilya. (WT 4/18; JT 4/18 in WNC 4/19; WP 4/19; LAW 4/20)