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Israel strikes after Hamas raid Day of Gaza unrest leaves 22 dead
(41 minutes later)
An Israeli air strike on the Gaza Strip has reportedly killed 11 Palestinians after a Hamas attack which left three soldiers dead. At least 22 people, including 5 Palestinian children, have died in Gaza's worst day of fighting since Israeli incursions in early March.
Five children are among those killed by the strike near Bureij refugee camp, doctors say, and a Reuters cameraman was killed, apparently by a tank shell. A Hamas ambush in northern Gaza killed three Israeli troops, Israel's highest daily loss in the area for 3 years.
Confirming the Bureij strike, Israel said it had targeted gunmen. That sparked Israeli air strikes near Bureij refugee camp, which Israel said targeted gunmen, but which left five children among 11 people killed.
In all, 22 people were killed on one of the bloodiest days since Israel's Gaza incursions in February-March. A cameraman also died when his car was apparently fired on by an Israeli tank.
At least 100 people were killed during those operations which Israel launched after Palestinian rocket attacks on its territory. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was gravely concerned by the escalation of fighting and urged both sides to show restraint.
DAY OF BLOODSHED IN GAZA Children among 11 Palestinians killed by Israeli air strike near BureijThree Israeli soldiers killed near Nahal Oz Four Hamas militants killed by Israeli troops east of Gaza CityReuters cameraman (pictured above) and two others killed, apparently by Israeli tank One man killed on air strike on car near Beit Lahyia Thin hopes
For a few weeks, the casualty figures had dwindled in Gaza with Egypt attempting to broker some sort of ceasefire, the BBC's Tim Franks reports. At least 100 people were killed during operations launched by Israel in early March after Palestinian rocket attacks on its territory.
Now those hopes appear thinner than ever, our Middle East correspondent says. DAY OF BLOODSHED IN GAZA Children among 11 killed by Israeli air strike near BureijThree Israeli soldiers killed near Nahal Oz Four Hamas militants killed by Israeli troops east of Gaza CityReuters cameraman (above) and two others killed in apparent tank-strikeOne man killed on air strike on car near Beit Lahyia
Tank footage Since then, casualty figures had dwindled in Gaza with Egypt attempting to broker some sort of ceasefire, the BBC's Tim Franks reports.
Medics told the BBC that five people were also injured by the Israeli air strike near Bureij. Now the chances of that appear slimmer than ever, our Middle East correspondent says.
Most of those killed were civilians, Hamas and medical officials said. Wednesday's highest death-toll came when Israel launched air-strikes near the Bureij camp. According to Hamas, Israeli helicopters launched four missiles.
According to Hamas, Israeli helicopters launched four missiles. Earlier, three Israeli soldiers were killed and three wounded when Hamas gunmen approached the security fence near the Nahal Oz crossing, Israel's army said.
Reuters cameraman Fadel Shana, 23, was killed along with two bystanders after he got out of a car marked "TV" and "Press" in central Gaza, the agency reports. The deaths were Israel's highest daily toll in the area since 2006.
Pursuing two Hamas fighters who had planted a bomb, the soldiers were ambushed by a second Hamas group lying in wait, Israel's military said.
Hamas said it had mounted a "sophisticated ambush".
'Dangerous warfare'
In other violence throughout the day, a Reuters cameraman was among three killed when his car exploded, apparently after being hit by an Israeli tank shell.
Two others died in the blast that killed the Reuters cameraman
Fadel Shana, 23, was killed along with two bystanders after he got out of a car marked "TV" and "Press" in central Gaza, the agency reports.
Film recovered from his camera shows an Israeli tank opening fire several hundred metres away, Reuters adds.Film recovered from his camera shows an Israeli tank opening fire several hundred metres away, Reuters adds.
It goes blank about two seconds after the shell is fired - apparently at the moment it hit the car.It goes blank about two seconds after the shell is fired - apparently at the moment it hit the car.
An Israeli military official quoted by Reuters later expressed regret at the cameraman's death. An Israeli military official later expressed regret at the cameraman's death.
class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7351655.stm">In pictures: Gaza fighting "The presence of media, photographers and other uninvolved individuals in areas of warfare is extremely dangerous and poses a threat to their lives," he told Reuters.
"It should be emphasised that [he died in an] area in which ongoing fighting against armed, extreme and dangerous terrorist organisations occurs on a daily basis," he added. Lengthy campaign?
"The presence of media, photographers and other uninvolved individuals in areas of warfare is extremely dangerous and poses a threat to their lives." In other fighting on Wednesday, four Hamas militants were killed by Israeli troops east of Gaza City.
Four Hamas militants were also killed by Israeli troops east of Gaza City early on Wednesday.
An air strike on a car also killed one Palestinian near Beit Lahyia, in the north of the strip.An air strike on a car also killed one Palestinian near Beit Lahyia, in the north of the strip.
Hamas ambush
Earlier on Wednesday, three Israeli soldiers were killed and three wounded when Hamas gunmen approached the security fence near the Nahal Oz crossing, the army said.
The soldiers were killed as they pursued two Hamas fighters who had planted a bomb. They were ambushed by a second Hamas group lying in wait, the military said.
Hamas said it had mounted a "sophisticated ambush".
Israel's military losses were its biggest single toll in the area since 2006.
It is hard to say whether the recent spike in Israeli military casualties is down to more effective tactics by Hamas or simply the result of increased Israeli activity in Gaza and therefore increased exposure, says BBC defence and security correspondent Rob Watson.It is hard to say whether the recent spike in Israeli military casualties is down to more effective tactics by Hamas or simply the result of increased Israeli activity in Gaza and therefore increased exposure, says BBC defence and security correspondent Rob Watson.
A recent Israeli study by a research group with close ties to Israel's defence establishment said Hamas was currently engaged in the broadest and most significant military build-up in its history.A recent Israeli study by a research group with close ties to Israel's defence establishment said Hamas was currently engaged in the broadest and most significant military build-up in its history.
Some generals argue a major Israeli incursion will eventually be needed to prevent Hamas growing even stronger militarily.Some generals argue a major Israeli incursion will eventually be needed to prevent Hamas growing even stronger militarily.
But they also fear the possible consequences of a lengthy campaign in the crowded cities and refugee camps of Gaza, our correspondent says.But they also fear the possible consequences of a lengthy campaign in the crowded cities and refugee camps of Gaza, our correspondent says.