ISRAEL HOLDS HAMAS DEPUTY PM

Israel escalates action over captured soldier; Holds deputy Palestinian PM, others in West Bank; sends tanks into Gaza (AP)

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Israel sent tanks into northern Gaza and arrested the Palestinian deputy prime minister and dozens of other Hamas government officials early Thursday, escalating its response to the abduction of one of its soldiers. The moves came after thousands of troops moved into southern Gaza Wednesday and Israeli warplanes roared over the summer home of Syria’s president, who is blamed for harboring Hamas leaders. Palestinian witnesses said Israeli tanks and bulldozers entered northern Gaza before daybreak Thursday, adding a second front to the Israeli action in Gaza. The Israeli military had no comment on the latest incursion.