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March 12, 2012

21 Palestinians in Gaza Die in Israeli Air Strikes 
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Israeli air strikes on Gaza have entered their fourth day. The strikes
have killed at least 21 Palestinians and injured 73 others. Three
Palestinians died overnight, including a 15-year-old boy. Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the strikes for "as
long as necessary." Militants in Gaza have fired 180 rockets into Israel
in response to the air strikes. Four Israelis have been injured. Schools
have been shut down in the region for two days. Palestinian lawmaker
Mustafa Barghouthi accused the Israelis of trying to create the tension
of war in the region.

Mustafa Barghouthi: "Israel was trying to break the calm. While
Palestinians were committed to the truce, (Israel was trying) to find a
way out for its crisis and to create the tension of war in the area."

Palestinian militants began firing rockets after an Israeli jet killed
Zuhair al-Qaisi on Friday in a targeted killing. He was the head of the
Popular Resistance Committees militant group.



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