LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Israel raided Gaza and the West Bank today, a day after Palestinians launched a missile against a town in southern Israel. Seven Palestinians were killed overnight. With warfare there escalating, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is canceling his planned trip next week trip to Europe. CNN's Mike Hanna is in Jerusalem. Let's check in with him right now. Hello, Mike.</s>MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello there, Leon. Well, the fact that Ariel Sharon has canceled that trip to Britain and to Spain, a very clear indication of how seriously the situation is viewed, and serious it is indeed. The conflict continues to gather in intensity, a massive Israeli military operation undertaken in the Gaza Strip in the course of the early morning and throughout the day. A number of Israeli forces moved into Palestinian-controlled areas. At least seven Palestinians were killed, as were two Israeli soldiers. This operation was in response, says Israel, to the firing of two homemade Palestinian rockets into the southern Israeli town of Sterat. The use of these Khasam (ph) II rockets, as they are called, has been said by Israel to signal a massive escalation in its view. For months now, Israel has warned repeatedly that should these rockets be fired into Israeli towns, it would be seen as an escalation, and would be met with a radical military response. Well, there has been radical military response through the course of the day in Gaza. Also, several Israeli strikes reported in various areas of the West Bank, as well as in parts, as I said, of the Gaza Strip. Well, Ariel Sharon, it's now his first year in power. He was sworn in as prime minister a year ago, and there's been mounting criticism among the Israeli public. When Sharon came to power, he promised security and he promised economic prosperity. Well 12 months on, there's little of either -- Leon.</s>HARRIS: Mike Hanna, reporting live for us from Jerusalem, thank you very much. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Israel Raided Gaza and West Bank Today