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    March 11, 2012

Israeli Air Strikes Kill At Least 17 Palestinians

   VOA News
   Palestinian doctors bring a wounded man for treatment following an
   Israeli airstrike in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, March 10,
   2012
   Photo: AP
   Palestinian doctors bring a wounded man for treatment following an
   Israeli airstrike in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, March 10,
   2012

   Palestinian medical officials say an Israeli airstrike killed a
   12-year-old boy and a militant Sunday, bringing the death toll in Gaza
   since Friday to 17.
   Israel is retaliating for more than 100 rocket attacks into Israeli
   territory in the worst flare-up of violence between Israelis and
   Palestinians in several years.
   Thousands of Palestinian mourners took to the streets of Gaza Saturday
   for the funeral processions of those killed. Many of the marchers
   chanted "Revenge, revenge!"
   Among the dead is Zuhair al-Qaissi, the leader of the Popular
   Resistance Committees (PRC). The group is best known for the 2006
   abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit, who was freed last year in
   exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
   Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the air strikes will continue
   and the Israeli army will hit anyone planning to attack Israeli
   citizens.
   "The whole round will continue as long as necessary to make sure that
   whoever has to be punished for these attempts to initiate terrorist
   attacks against Israeli as well as those who are trying to launch
   rockets at us will be punished," said Barak.
   Israel said it launched the airstrikes because the PRC was planning an
   attack on Israel from Egypt.
   A Hamas, Sami Abu Zuhri, blames Israel for the violence.
   "The Israeli occupation is completely responsible for this escalation
   and its consequences," said Abu Zuhri. "The Hamas movement confirms the
   right of resistance of our people and the factions to defend themselves
   in facing these crimes."
   The escalating violence drew appeals for a cease-fire from the United
   States, United Nations and European Union.

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