w w w . h a a r e t z . c o m Last update - 23:22 17/05/2007 IDF troops, tanks enter Gaza; 7 dead, including 4 Hamas men, in IAF strikes By Aluf Benn, Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff and Mijal Grinberg, Haaretz Correspondents, and Agencies

Israel Defense Forces infantry troops and tanks advanced several hundred meters into the Gaza Strip at two points Thursday evening, following four Israel Air Force attacks on Gaza that left at least seven Palestinians dead. (Click here for map)

The IDF took up positions in the Gaza Strip west of Sderot, as well as at the ruins of former settlements Nisanit and Elei Sinai. But the IDF said that the troops are not preparing for an extensive operation in the Strip.

The IDF tanks entered Gaza earlier Thursday, securing lookout positions just inside the northern Strip.

Palestinian militants fired some 30 Qassam rockets at the western Negev on Thursday, one of which slammed into a high school on the outskirts of Sderot, lightly wounding two people.

After the tanks entered Gaza, the IAF reported a fifth air strike on Gaza in which the house of a Qassam rocket maker was hit. The IDF reported that the man had been inside the house during the strike, but his condition in unknown.

Earlier Thursday, in the first IAF strike, a Hamas Executive Force compound in Gaza City was hit, killing a Hamas militant and wounding dozens of people.

Later, the IAF fired missiles at car belonging to Hamas in Gaza City, killing two militants. Hamas identified one of the dead as Imad Shbana, a senior member of the organization.

Later Thursday, the IAF hit Gaza City for a third time, striking a Hamas position in the city and killing at least one militant.

The IAF carried out a fourth strike on Thursday evening, firing a missile at a vehicle in southern Gaza at sundown. Israel confirmed the strike, saying that the vehicle had been carrying members of the militant Islamic Jihad organization.

Until then it is just smoke and mirros to make the public feel better.