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Civilians die in Gaza tank fire Civilians die in Gaza tank fire
(30 minutes later)
At least 18 Palestinians have been killed and 40 wounded by Israel tank fire in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, Palestinian sources have said.At least 18 Palestinians have been killed and 40 wounded by Israel tank fire in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, Palestinian sources have said.
Palestinian officials said Israeli troops fired on houses, and that women and children were among the dead.Palestinian officials said Israeli troops fired on houses, and that women and children were among the dead.
But the Israeli army said it was unaware of any such firing. The Israeli army has said it fired shells in response to rocket fire by militants. It said it was checking reports of civilian casualties.
Earlier, four Palestinian militants and a civilian were reported killed in an Israeli army operation near the West Bank town of Jenin. The Israelis withdrew from the town on Tuesday following a major offensive.
The militants were said to be members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, an armed offshoot of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement. TV footage from the Beit Hanoun incident showed the victims being taken to hospital in their sleeping clothes, some with terrible injuries.
The Israeli army confirmed an operation to arrest wanted gunmen.
TV footage of the Beit Hanoun incident showed the victims being taken to hospital in their sleeping clothes, some with terrible injuries.
"It is the saddest scene and images I have ever seen. We saw legs, we saw heads, we saw hands scattered in the street," 22-year-old eyewitness Attaf Hamad told Reuters news agency."It is the saddest scene and images I have ever seen. We saw legs, we saw heads, we saw hands scattered in the street," 22-year-old eyewitness Attaf Hamad told Reuters news agency.
"I saw people coming out of a house covered in blood. I started screaming to wake up the neighbours.""I saw people coming out of a house covered in blood. I started screaming to wake up the neighbours."
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, of the ruling Hamas militant faction, called for an immediate session of the United Nations in response to the incident, calling it a "massacre".
Mr Haniya said efforts to form a national unity government with the Fatah movement would be suspended in protest.
Local Hamas leader Nizar Rayan vowed to launch more rockets at Israel in retaliation.Local Hamas leader Nizar Rayan vowed to launch more rockets at Israel in retaliation.
The incident occurred just 24 hours after Israeli troops withdrew from the town. They are now said to be in positions just outside. West Bank violence
Earlier, in a separate incident, five Palestinians were reported killed in an army raid near the West Bank town of Jenin.
The militants were said to be members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, an armed offshoot of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement.
The Israeli army confirmed an operation to arrest wanted gunmen.
The Beit Hanoun incident occurred just 24 hours after Israeli troops withdrew from the town. They are now said to be in positions just outside.
Some 50 Palestinians were killed during the six-day operation, during which the Israeli army said it found large quantities of arms.Some 50 Palestinians were killed during the six-day operation, during which the Israeli army said it found large quantities of arms.
Militants launched at least four rockets into the Israeli town of Ashkelon from northern Gaza on Tuesday. There were no casualties.Militants launched at least four rockets into the Israeli town of Ashkelon from northern Gaza on Tuesday. There were no casualties.