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December 20, 2008

Israeli Missile Attack Kills Palestinian in Gaza
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=211E071:A6F02AD83191E16048B2DF77EFBBC7BC0531BB26A5003E7B&
 
Army spokesman says airstrike came in response to rocket attack earlier
Saturday by militants in Gaza Strip 
Palestinians carry body of member of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, during
funeral, Jebaliya refugee camp, 20 Dec 2008Violence has erupted in and
around the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip after the end of an
Israeli-Palestinian truce. Israel launched an airstrike on Palestinians
firing rockets across the Gaza border. One Palestinian militant was
killed. It was the first deadly clash since a six-month-old cease-fire
formally ended on Friday. The Islamic militant group Hamas, which rules
Gaza, decided not to renew the truce saying it would return to armed
resistance. Israel said it prefers to continue the cease-fire, but if
attacked, it will retaliate."Unfortunately, rockets launched by
terrorists in Gaza continue to rain down on Israeli civilians. And this
situation just can't continue," said Israeli spokesman Mark Regev. Hamas
spokesman Fawzi Barhoum blamed Israeli army raids and the closing of
border crossings into Gaza for the collapse of the cease-fire. Barhoum
said Israel sought a cease-fire but violated it, and the "Zionist
occupation," as he put it, would pay the price. Meanwhile, a boat
carrying a Qatari delegation, Lebanese activists and an Israeli
journalist sailed into Gaza from Cyprus carrying symbolic humanitarian
aid. It was the fifth boat trip by international activists since the
summer in defiance of a crippling Israeli blockade. One of the
passengers, Aed al-Kahtani, who represents a government-funded charity
in Qatar, said the people and government of Qatar want to help their
needy Palestinian brothers in Gaza.


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