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November 29, 2008

Hamas Claims Mortar Fire that Injured Israeli Soldiers
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=20B4CCC:A6F02AD83191E160D3056EFD10EFEB68D937473925D9872C&
 
Israeli officials say three mortar shells were fired across border from
Gaza Strip Friday 
Islamic militant group Hamas has claimed responsibility for a rocket
attack on an Israeli army base that wounded eight soldiers. Israeli
officials said three mortar shells were fired across the border from the
Gaza Strip Friday. Earlier,
another Palestinian militant group, the Popular Resistance Committees,
claimed responsibility for the mortar fire. But Hamas later said it
was behind the attack. Violence has been increasing despite a truce
between Israel and Hamas reached in June. Israel
has responded by tightening its blockade of Gaza, making it difficult
for food, supplies and other humanitarian aid to reach thousands of
Palestinians. Media reports say Egypt will open the Rafah border
crossing with Gaza Saturday to allow Palestinian pilgrims to set out on
the Hajj, or Muslim pilgrimage, to Mecca. The French news agency
quotes an Egyptian official saying only pilgrims will be allowed to
leave Gaza for Saudi Arabia. Some 3,000 Gazans are registered for the
pilgrimage.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.


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