This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6115950.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Israel mounts air strikes in Gaza | Israel mounts air strikes in Gaza |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Israeli forces have killed at least seven people including a 12-year-old girl in air raids and incidents during an ongoing offensive in Gaza. | Israeli forces have killed at least seven people including a 12-year-old girl in air raids and incidents during an ongoing offensive in Gaza. |
| The deaths bring the number of those killed since Wednesday to at least 42. A top Hamas militant is among the dead. | The deaths bring the number of those killed since Wednesday to at least 42. A top Hamas militant is among the dead. |
| At least 17 people were killed on Friday, including two women shot during the siege of a mosque in Beit Hanoun. | At least 17 people were killed on Friday, including two women shot during the siege of a mosque in Beit Hanoun. |
| Israel says it is targeting militants but Palestinian officials accuse Israel of a "massacre". | Israel says it is targeting militants but Palestinian officials accuse Israel of a "massacre". |
| Israeli forces have made regular incursions into Gaza and the West Bank following the capture of an Israeli soldier 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 in a cross-border raid by Palestinian militants on 25 June. |
| 'Death and despair' | 'Death and despair' |
| The young girl was shot in the head by an Israeli sniper in Beit Hanoun, during a day of violence. | The young girl was shot in the head by an Israeli sniper in Beit Hanoun, during a day of violence. |
| The army said one of its soldiers had been aiming for a gunman but missed and hit the girl. | The army said one of its soldiers had been aiming for a gunman but missed and hit the girl. |
| 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 nightfall on Friday, targeting the towns of Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya, Jabaliya and Rafah. |
| A number of Hamas militants were among those killed in the latest strikes, along with one civilian buried in the rubble of his home. | A number of Hamas militants were among those killed in the latest strikes, along with one civilian buried in the rubble of his home. |
| One of the Hamas militants killed was senior member, Louay al-Borno, who died when an air strike set ablaze a minivan in Gaza City. Two other Hamas members were wounded in the incident. | One of the Hamas militants killed was senior member, Louay al-Borno, who died when an air strike set ablaze a minivan in Gaza City. Two other Hamas members were wounded in the incident. |
| Eyewitness: In Beit Hanoun Gaza's rocket threat | Eyewitness: In Beit Hanoun Gaza's rocket threat |
| The Israeli army also said it had blown up three buildings near the mosque that witnessed Friday's siege in Beit Hanoun. Israel said weapons were being stored in the buildings. | The Israeli army also said it had blown up three buildings near the mosque that witnessed Friday's siege in Beit Hanoun. Israel said weapons were being stored in the buildings. |
| A Palestinian Authority employee told the BBC it was the worst Israeli incursion they had ever had into the town. | A Palestinian Authority employee told the BBC it was the worst Israeli incursion they had ever had into the town. |
| Ibrahim al-Za'anin, 55, said they had been without electricity or water since Tuesday night. | Ibrahim al-Za'anin, 55, said they had been without electricity or water since Tuesday night. |
| "We no longer feel safe in our own homes," he said. | "We no longer feel safe in our own homes," he said. |
| Israeli officials say the offensive is aimed at destroying militant infrastructure and stopping Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel. | Israeli officials say the offensive is aimed at destroying militant infrastructure and stopping Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel. |
| PA President Mahmoud Abbas called the operation a "massacre" and urged the UN Security Council to convene to discuss the issue. | PA President Mahmoud Abbas called the operation a "massacre" and urged the UN Security Council to convene to discuss the issue. |
| A senior UN official given Israeli permission to enter Beit Hanoun described the atmosphere as one of death, destruction and despair. | A senior UN official given Israeli permission to enter Beit Hanoun described the atmosphere as one of death, destruction and despair. |
| 'Militants escaped' | 'Militants escaped' |
| Friday's action around the Beit Hanoun mosque followed a tense stand-off between Israeli forces and up to 15 militants who had taken refuge inside. | Friday's action around the Beit Hanoun mosque followed a tense stand-off between Israeli forces and up to 15 militants who had taken refuge inside. |
| Women flocked to the Beit Hanoun mosque on Friday | Women flocked to the Beit Hanoun mosque on Friday |
| Hamas radio then appealed to local women in the town to intervene. | Hamas radio then appealed to local women in the town to intervene. |
| 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." |
| In addition to the two women killed, at least 10 women and a Palestinian cameraman were injured in firing. | In addition to the two women killed, at least 10 women and a Palestinian cameraman were injured in firing. |
| Hamas leader Ismail Haniya praised the women but Israel said they had served as "human shields" for the militants. | Hamas leader Ismail Haniya praised the women but Israel said they had served as "human shields" for the militants. |
| The Israeli military says it only fired on armed Palestinians. | The Israeli military says it only fired on armed Palestinians. |