Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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February 7, 2008

Israeli Forces Kill 7 Palestinians in Gaza Raid
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B2D9A0:A6F02AD83191E160A44C22064765B2A7A13B8D4F2090AB2B& Fighting started
after Israeli tanks backed by aircraft moved into town of Beit Hanoun
in northern Gaza to confront militants firing rockets at southern
Israel Israeli troops have killed at least six Palestinian militants
and a schoolteacher in the northern Gaza Strip. VOA's Jim Teeple has
details from our Jerusalem bureau.







Palestinians carry the body of Hamas militant, Hamouda Sharafa Tufha,
killed during an Israeli army operation, during his funeral in Gaza
City, 07 Feb 2008

The fighting started after Israeli tanks backed by aircraft moved into
the town of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza to confront militants firing
rockets at southern Israel. 

A Palestinian schoolteacher was killed and two of his colleagues were
wounded when an Israeli missile struck their agricultural school
during the operation.

Israeli military authorities say they are investigating the incident,
but Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Israel Radio on Thursday military
operations in Gaza will continue as long as the rockets keep striking
southern Israel.

Barak says the Israeli strikes could increase and will continue, along
with the blockade of the Gaza Strip, until the problem with  Qassam
rockets stop.

Rocket attacks against southern Israel have intensified over the past
few days and they are causing more injuries among Israelis. 

Hamas militants are claiming responsibility for most of the attacks.
Until recently, militants belonging to Islamic Jihad and the so-called
Popular Resistance Committees had taken credit for a majority of the
rocket attacks.  Hamas also claimed responsibility for a suicide
bombing earlier this week that killed an elderly Israeli woman.  The
attack had previously been claimed by two other militant groups.

It was the first suicide bombing claimed by Hamas in three years. 
Israeli security officials say the bombing was a new attempt by Hamas
to derail peace talks between Israel and the moderate West Bank
government of Mahmoud Abbas.






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