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IDF troops training near Kibbutz Kissufim in the western Negev on Wednesday. (Reuters)
Last update - 15:16 07/05/2008
Palestinians: IAF strikes in Gaza kill 1 militant, wound 13 others
By News Agencies
Tags: Israel, Gaza, Gunmen, IDF

Israel Defense Forces tanks and bulldozers rumbled into the southern Gaza Strip early Wednesday, and Israeli aircraft struck a series of targets. One militant was killed and at least 14 Palestinians, including one civilian, were wounded in the fighting, according to witnesses and medical officials.

Palestinian witnesses said a total of 25 tanks and armored bulldozers entered Abassan, an area east of Khan Yunis, setting off battles with local militants.

Israel Air Force aircraft carried out at least four airstrikes, including one that struck a group of Palestinians who were using abandoned houses as cover, witnesses said.
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A gunman of the Islamic Jihad group was killed and another group member was wounded, said Dr. Moaiya Hassanain of the Palestinian Health Ministry.

An earlier strike hit six members of the Hamas group, which rules the Gaza Strip. Three of the men were in critical condition, Hassanain said.

In that incident, Sami al-Najar, a resident of the area, said the militants were standing near a house and fired a rocket-propelled grenade toward a tank before the airstrike. He said some of the wounded were in the house and others were taken away in a private car that came under fire by the IDF troops. He also claimed the army fired at ambulances that came to the scene.

The army said it carried out two airstrikes to target gunmen near the troops.

Seven other Palestinians, all militants except one civilian, were wounded in two other airstrikes, Gaza medical officials said.

The IDF said the operation was aimed at militants in southern Gaza, and confirmed hitting a group of militants in an earlier airstrike.

The IDF frequently conducts raids and airstrikes in Gaza in an effort to prevent Palestinian militants from firing rockets into southern Israeli towns

Israel also has imposed a blockade on Gaza to pressure the area's Hamas rulers, whom it holds responsible for the rocket fire.

After months of fighting, Egypt has been trying to mediate a truce between Israel and Hamas. The Egyptian intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, is expected in Israel early next week to discuss his efforts, though it remains unclear whether he will be able to forge a deal.

Although both sides appear eager to halt the fighting, Hamas also wants Israel to end the blockade, which has caused widespread shortages of fuel and basic goods, and reopen Gaza's borders. Israel wants Hamas to release an Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian militants nearly two years ago.

While Israel battles Hamas in Gaza, it is conducting peace talks with the rival Palestinian government of President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank. The
sides hope to reach a deal by the end of the year, though Israel has warned Abbas that it will not carry out an agreement until he regains control of Gaza.

The Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza - areas located on opposite sides of Israel.


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    Stronger than its ills
    The 60th anniversary celebrations are accompanied by a bad taste.
    Rise in racism
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      1.   If Arabs want to save their wounded, keep em away from their docs 09:06  |  spade 07/05/08
      2.   If islam is true - why are they almost always loosing? 10:22  |  Johnny 07/05/08
      3.   Pals should complain that IL wont admit Terros for treatment 10:59  |  Alan SA 07/05/08
      4.   Johnny #2 11:44  |  Eli B 07/05/08
      5.   Gaza Incursions 12:25  |  Marcos 07/05/08
      6.   Good! I hope there is more to come until Hamas is not longer!!! 13:35  |  Yossi 07/05/08
      7.   Marcos... 14:12  |  Linichka 07/05/08
      8.   Israel: Celebrating 60 years by committing War Crimes 14:38  |  POP 07/05/08
      9.   To #8 POP - Thank you for your kind wishes! 15:01  |  Yossi 07/05/08
      10.   To Johnny 15:02  |  Oleg 07/05/08
      11.   #8 POP; Lighten up and celebrate 15:07  |  Murray the Mongoose 07/05/08
      12.   WE ARE NOT NEGATING THEM 15:07  |  Robert 07/05/08
      13.   Silvienne! This is absolutely terrible! 15:33  |  Murray the Mongoose 07/05/08
      14.   Re-occupation. 15:33  |  Vital 07/05/08
      15.   To POP 15:34  |  Oleg 07/05/08
      16.   #8 POP; So? Arabs have been commiting war crimes for 60+ yrs 15:43  |  Clarence Darrow 07/05/08
      17.   POP-Everyday is a celebration of Hamas Cruelty 15:44  |  Albert 07/05/08
      18.   To 8 POP - You wrote nonsense. 15:59  |  Vital 07/05/08
      19.   #5 Marcos 16:02  |  John Allen 07/05/08
      20.   #8 Pop. I wish they were... 16:09  |  John Allen 07/05/08
      21.   pop, your president abbas , doesnt think like u... 16:14  |  Gabriel 07/05/08
      22.   #7, Marcos from Germany 16:17  |  Sam C 07/05/08
      23.   #5 Marcos In their own words there are NO civilians 16:26  |  MaryRose 07/05/08
      24.   Hamas TV: Gaza evacuation by Israel leads to destruction... 16:33  |  Jean Van Daem 07/05/08
      25.   Israel just kills militant not civil citizens! again a big lie! 17:16  |  Roxana from IRAN 07/05/08
      26.   #13, Murray the Mongoose... 17:29  |  Silvienne 07/05/08
      27.   "25 tanks and armoured bulldozers"... 17:32  |  Silvienne 07/05/08
      28.   POP & Marcos: Where are your responses? 18:12  |  Vittorio 07/05/08
      29.   It must give you a clue, Slyvienne 18:16  |  Linichka 07/05/08
      30.   What a criminal & ugly abuse of military power by the IDF 18:26  |  Dutch 07/05/08
      31.   Why are Muslims held to a different standard than everyone else? 18:59  |  JL 07/05/08
      32.   60yrs is already too much of this outlaw state 19:02  |  Dutch 07/05/08
      33.   #25, Roxana is correct... 19:12  |  Silvienne 07/05/08
      34.   Dutch-Isreali Outlived Nassar,Assad Sr.Ayatollah Khomeini,etc,etc 19:24  |  Albert 07/05/08
      35.   #23, MaryRose forget it;Ben Jabo has brought out that video 19:32  |  Silvienne 07/05/08
      36.   #29, Linichka...you`ve got that backwards... 19:33  |  Silvienne 07/05/08
      37.   #31, JL, the answer to that is easy... 19:35  |  Silvienne 07/05/08
      38.   Happy 60th Yom Atzmaut to Israel!! 19:41  |  Pervert 07/05/08
      39.   My dear Silvienne (the poor Parrot) 19:47  |  Murray the Mongoose 07/05/08
      40.   According to IDF all Gazan are militants. 20:00  |  Jaffar 07/05/08
      41.   Roxana from Iran anf finger pointing. 20:00  |  Murray the Mongoose 07/05/08
      42.   THE DEAL IS OFF. GAZA NEEDS TO BE RETURNED 20:00  |  PalestniansAreA Myth 07/05/08
      43.   #31 JL Good questions! 20:04  |  Murray the Mongoose 07/05/08
      44.   Roxana, Silvienne and Dutch... 20:37  |  DR 07/05/08
      45.   to JL - number #31 20:41  |  Cristian 07/05/08
      46.   Murray! Was your post relevat to the topic! 21:07  |  Roxana from Iran 07/05/08
      47.   #26 Silly Vaine 21:47  |  * BEN JABO 07/05/08
      48.   Mary Rose - As usual Silly Vaine distorts facts 21:53  |  * BEN JABO 07/05/08
      49.   #36 Silly Vain 21:55  |  * BEN JABO 07/05/08
      50.   #37 Silly Vaine 22:00  |  * BEN JABO 07/05/08
      51.   #37-2 Silli Vain`s math 22:02  |  * BEN JABO 07/05/08
      52.   YES Roxana from Iran (46), My post was relavent 22:04  |  Murray the Mongoose 07/05/08
      53.   #40 Jaffar - Gazan`s voted for the guys that fire rockets 22:04  |  * BEN JABO 07/05/08
      54.   #44, DR... 22:30  |  Silvienne 07/05/08
      55.   #52, Mongoose... 22:42  |  Silvienne 07/05/08
      56.   #53, Ben Jabber And The Video... 22:45  |  Silvienne 07/05/08
      57.   #47, Ben Jabber;they knew what they were not going to confront... 22:58  |  Silvienne 07/05/08
      58.   #40-2 Jaffar - I`m a nice guy, didn`t want u to wait 23:03  |  * BEN JABO 07/05/08
      59.   33. Silvienne: you are correct 23:15  |  Eylo 07/05/08
      60.   #54 Silvienne...agreed! 23:21  |  DR 07/05/08
      61.   Silvienne 23:27  |  Nemesis 07/05/08
      62.   3rd try-Silvienne persists in posting inane comments 23:54  |  Stephen in New York 07/05/08
      63.   #56 Silly Vain - Video truth hurts, enjoy the pain 00:05  |  * BEN JABO 08/05/08
      64.   # 5 Marcos of Germany.....shut up 00:08  |  Lynn Kubiak 08/05/08
      65.   #57 Silly Vain - It really isn`t your business 00:10  |  * BEN JABO 08/05/08
      66.   #61 Nemesis - Not getting fed up, long fed up 00:29  |  * BEN JABO 08/05/08
      67.   #61, Is that Nemesis I see yonder? (sigh) 00:29  |  Silvienne 08/05/08
      68.   #56 Silly Vain 00:31  |  * BEN JABO 08/05/08
      69.   #59, Eylo... 00:34  |  Silvienne 08/05/08
      70.   Ben Jabber-Not That Video Again!!! 00:40  |  Silvienne