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Israel targets Hamas men in Gaza Israel mounts air strikes in Gaza
(about 4 hours later)
Israeli forces have killed a Hamas militant and hurt two others in an air strike on their vehicle in Gaza City. Israeli forces have mounted a series of air strikes overnight, killing at least eight Palestinians.
At least 17 people were killed by Israeli action on Friday in one of the deadliest days in Gaza recently. The strikes bring the number of those killed since the Israeli offensive began on Wednesday to at least 30.
Two of the dead were women, shot as they formed part of a crowd that stormed a mosque to rescue gunmen hiding from besieging Israeli forces. The violence comes after at least 17 people were killed in a single day on Friday, including two women shot during the siege of a mosque in Beit Hanoun.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniya praised the women but Israel said they had served as "human shields" for the militants. Israel says its operation, one of the largest since the Gaza pull-out targets militants behind rocket attacks.
Palestinian doctors said seven people died in Israeli raids following the clash at the mosque in the town of Beit Hanoun. An Israeli military spokesman said five air strikes had taken place after nightfall on Friday, targeting the towns of Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya, Jabaliya and Rafah.
An Israeli military spokesman said five air strikes had taken place after dark on Friday, targeting the towns of Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya, Jabaliya and Rafah. Saturday's air strike targeted a vehicle carrying Hamas militants in Gaza City, killing one militant and wounding two others.
Israeli officials say they were targeting suspected Palestinian militants who were planting explosives or who had carried out rocket attacks. The minivan burst into flames, and medical officials said the force of the blast severed the legs of two occupants, Associated Press reports.
Saturday's air strike targeted a vehicle carrying Hamas militants in Gaza City. Residents say the town of Beit Hanoun has been under a virtual curfew since Israeli forces moved in on Wednesday.
A Hamas official said the militants had been involved in manufacturing rockets that were to be fired at Israel.
'Militants escaped''Militants escaped'
Friday's dramatic mosque rescue began with a Hamas radio appeal to local women. Friday's dramatic action around a mosque followed a tense stand-off between Israeli forces and up to 15 militants who had taken refuge inside
They were asked to intervene when a tense stand-off developed between Israeli forces surrounding the mosque and up to 15 militants who had taken refuge inside. Hamas radio then appealed to local women in the town to intervene.
Up to 200 women marched towards the mosque Enlarge Image Up to 200 women marched towards the mosque Enlarge Image
One of the women, Nahed Abou Harbiya, told the BBC Arabic Service the gunmen inside the mosque were given women's clothes to help them escape.One of the women, Nahed Abou Harbiya, told the BBC Arabic Service the gunmen inside the mosque were given women's clothes to help them escape.
"All the women headed to the mosque to get the Palestinian resistance men... But the Israeli occupation forces were firing heavily at us with their machine guns and also threw stun grenades at us."All the women headed to the mosque to get the Palestinian resistance men... But the Israeli occupation forces were firing heavily at us with their machine guns and also threw stun grenades at us.
"We entered the mosque and indeed we got all the resistance men out and put female attire on them so that the Israeli occupation forces wouldn't arrest them," she said."We entered the mosque and indeed we got all the resistance men out and put female attire on them so that the Israeli occupation forces wouldn't arrest them," she said.
Shots were fired as the women approached Israeli forces. As some of the women tried to pass the troops, further shots came and two women fell to the ground.Shots were fired as the women approached Israeli forces. As some of the women tried to pass the troops, further shots came and two women fell to the ground.
At least 10 women and a Palestinian cameraman were injured.At least 10 women and a Palestinian cameraman were injured.
Hamas radio reported that all of the militants in the mosque escaped and were uninjured. Hamas leader Ismail Haniya praised the women but Israel said they had served as "human shields" for the militants.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said Israeli soldiers fired at the crowd in response to gunfire from the militants. The Israeli military says it only fired on armed Palestinians.
Major raidMajor raid
About 30 Palestinians and an Israeli soldier have died in violence since the Israeli operation in Beit Hanoun began on Wednesday. At least 30 Palestinians and an Israeli soldier have died in violence since the Israeli operation in the town began on Wednesday.
Press despair over Gaza raid Gaza's rocket threatPress despair over Gaza raid Gaza's rocket threat
Many of those killed were gunmen, but a four-year-old boy died from his wounds overnight.Many of those killed were gunmen, but a four-year-old boy died from his wounds overnight.
BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says that Israel's most immediate aim is to prevent rocket attacks against its territory, but beyond that it wants to strike a decisive blow at Hamas.BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says that Israel's most immediate aim is to prevent rocket attacks against its territory, but beyond that it wants to strike a decisive blow at Hamas.
Israeli forces have made regular incursions into Gaza and the West Bank following the capture of an Israeli soldier, Cpl Gilad Shalit, in a cross-border raid by Palestinian militants on 25 June.Israeli forces have made regular incursions into Gaza and the West Bank following the capture of an Israeli soldier, Cpl Gilad Shalit, in a cross-border raid by Palestinian militants on 25 June.
More than 300 Palestinians have been killed in army operations since then, according to Israeli human rights group B'Tselem.More than 300 Palestinians have been killed in army operations since then, according to Israeli human rights group B'Tselem.