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Gazans gather to foil air strike Gazans gather to foil air strike
(40 minutes later)
Large numbers of Palestinians have converged on a home in Gaza belonging to a senior member of the ruling Palestinian militant group Hamas. Palestinians have again flocked to a home in Gaza to prevent a possible Israeli air force attack.
The move follows reports the Israeli air force was about to attack it, but there has been no confirmation of this. The house belonged to a senior member of the ruling Palestinian militant group Hamas. Israel has not confirmed it planned an attack there.
Similar action on Saturday caused Israel to call off an air strike on the home of another militant leader.Similar action on Saturday caused Israel to call off an air strike on the home of another militant leader.
Meanwhile, a UN official has toured Beit Hanoun, a town at the centre of a large Israeli army ground operation. Separately, two Hamas militants were killed when a missile hit their car in Gaza City, Palestinian sources said.
The violations of human rights in the Palestinian territories are intolerable. I think it's clear that civilians are tremendously exposed Louise Arbour href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6166362.stm" class="">High-risk tactic The incidents came as the senior UN human rights official toured Beit Hanoun, a town at the centre of a recent Israeli army operation.
Louise Arbour, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said she hoped her visit would reassure innocent Palestinian civilians that the "world has not abandoned them". Target zone
In a brief visit to northern Gaza, during which she met Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Ms Arbour listened to the accounts of local residents on the Israeli offensive on the town, in which about 80 people were killed. The owner of the house in Beit Lahiya, Wael Rajab, says the Israelis had warned him that they planned to attack his home.
"The violations of human rights in the Palestinian territories are intolerable," she said. "I think it's clear that civilians are tremendously exposed." The violations of human rights in the Palestinian territories are intolerable. I think it's clear that civilians are tremendously exposed Louise Arbour, UN high commissioner for human rights href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6166362.stm" class="">High-risk tactic
'A simple message' The BBC's Alan Johnston says the air force often telephones a warning 10 minutes before a strike to keep down casualties.
The BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza says the owner of the two-floor house in Beit Lahiya, Wael Rajab, told him that the Israelis had warned him that they planned to attack his home. Mosques in Gaza called on volunteers to assemble to protect the house.
Ms Arbour visited Beit Hanoun, targeted in a recent Israeli offensive
The air force often telephones a warning 10 minutes before a strike to give the occupants time to escape and keep down casualties, our correspondent says.
Mosques in Gaza have been calling on volunteers to assemble to protect the house.
A crowd gathered in the street and young men with Hamas flags sat on the roof, our correspondent reports.A crowd gathered in the street and young men with Hamas flags sat on the roof, our correspondent reports.
"I came as a citizen because the danger is not a house of Hamas. The danger is to all the houses, and this is a simple message to strengthen national unity," local Fatah leader Zuhdi Kilani told the Associated Press news agency.
FOUR MONTHS OF GAZA DEATHS Total: 247 fatalities155 civilian deaths57 deaths of children996 wounded, including 337 children (34%) Source: Physicians for Human Rights (28 June to 27 Oct) In pictures: Gaza stand-offFOUR MONTHS OF GAZA DEATHS Total: 247 fatalities155 civilian deaths57 deaths of children996 wounded, including 337 children (34%) Source: Physicians for Human Rights (28 June to 27 Oct) In pictures: Gaza stand-off
Similar action on Saturday caused Israel to call off an air strike on the home of another militant leader.Similar action on Saturday caused Israel to call off an air strike on the home of another militant leader.
For years Palestinians have been completely at the mercy of the Israeli air force, but they clearly believe that now they have found a weakness, our correspondent says.For years Palestinians have been completely at the mercy of the Israeli air force, but they clearly believe that now they have found a weakness, our correspondent says.
He says if the Palestinians know an attack is coming they can probably foil it by massing in the target zone. The Israelis can no longer expect to limit civilian casualties by calling ahead and clearing people out, he adds.
The Israelis can no longer expect to limit civilian casualties by calling ahead and clearing people out, our correspondent adds.
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.
About 400 Palestinians, many of them civilians, have been killed in the attacks.About 400 Palestinians, many of them civilians, have been killed in the attacks.
Israel says that these raids are an attempt to stop rocket fire into Israel by Palestinian militants.Israel says that these raids are an attempt to stop rocket fire into Israel by Palestinian militants.
In the latest strike, Israel's army confirmed it had targeted a car in Gaza City.
Hamas identified the two men killed as local commanders Abdel-Qader Habib and Basil Abeid.
Meanwhile UN high commissioner for human rights Louise Arbour said she hoped her visit to Gaza would reassure innocent Palestinian civilians that the "world has not abandoned them".
In a brief visit to northern Gaza, during which she met Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Ms Arbour listened to the accounts of residents on the Israeli offensive on the town, in which about 80 people were killed.
"The violations of human rights in the Palestinian territories are intolerable," she said. "I think it's clear that civilians are tremendously exposed."
Suspended talksSuspended talks
Meanwhile, a senior aide to Mr Abbas says talks on a national unity government have been suspended. A leading Hamas representative has denied this.Meanwhile, a senior aide to Mr Abbas says talks on a national unity government have been suspended. A leading Hamas representative has denied this.
There has been a long series of talks between the main Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, about forming a unity government, in the hope it would lead to the lifting of Israeli and Western sanctions imposed on the present Hamas-led administration.There has been a long series of talks between the main Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, about forming a unity government, in the hope it would lead to the lifting of Israeli and Western sanctions imposed on the present Hamas-led administration.
But negotiations have stumbled over whether a new government would explicitly recognise Israel. President Abbas has insisted that it should, and Hamas that it should not.But negotiations have stumbled over whether a new government would explicitly recognise Israel. President Abbas has insisted that it should, and Hamas that it should not.
The United States and the European Union regard Hamas as a terrorist organisation, and have called on it to renounce violence and recognise Israel.The United States and the European Union regard Hamas as a terrorist organisation, and have called on it to renounce violence and recognise Israel.