Six hours after the Netanya blast, Israeli warplanes hit Palestinian security targets. In addition to Nablus and Ramallah, warplanes targeted a Palestinian coast guard station north of Gaza City. Helicopter gunships rocketed Tulkarem, the West Bank hometown of the bomber, as well as security targets in Gaza City. It marked the first time since the 1967 Middle East war that Israel used fighter planes against targets in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In recent months, Israel has shelled Palestinian security installations from helicopter gunships and tanks.
Warplanes generally carry heavier explosives and wreak more destruction.
Israel holds Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat responsible for Palestinian attacks, saying he has freed Islamic militants from jail and has done nothing to rein them in. Arafat was convening his security chiefs at his seaside compound in Gaza City when Israeli warplanes and helicopters fired more than 25 rockets at seven security targets in the Gaza Strip. Arafat's adviser, Nabil Aburdeneh, said such retaliation would not bring security to Israelis. The apparent target of the Nablus raid was the prison where Mahmoud Abu Hanoud, a mastermind of several Hamas bombings, was held. Abu Hanoud, who tops Israel's wanted list, was injured and taken to safety, his brother said.