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Gazans gather to foil air strike Gazans gather to foil air strike
(about 1 hour later)
Large numbers of Palestinians have converged on a home in Gaza belonging to a senior member of the ruling Palestinian militant group Hamas.Large numbers of Palestinians have converged on a home in Gaza belonging to a senior member of the ruling Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The move follows reports the Israeli air force was about to attack it, but there has been no conformation of this. The move follows reports the Israeli air force was about to attack it, but there has been no confirmation of this.
The Israeli army often orders people in Gaza out of homes ahead of attacks. It says this is to avoid casualties. The Israeli army often orders people in out of their homes ahead of attacks. It says this is to avoid casualties.
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.
The building is in Beit Lahiya, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.The building is in Beit Lahiya, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
'A simple message''A simple message'
BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston is at the scene. He says the owner of the two-floor house told him that the Israelis have warned him that they plan to attack his home. The BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza says the owner of the two-floor house told him that the Israelis had warned him that they planned to attack his home.
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)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)
The air force often telephones a warning 10 minutes before the strike to give the occupants time to escape and keep down casualties, our correspondent says. 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.Mosques in Gaza have been calling on volunteers to assemble to protect the house.
Our correspondent says there is a crowd in the street and young men with Hamas flags are sitting on the roof.Our correspondent says there is a crowd in the street and young men with Hamas flags are sitting on the roof.
"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 AP news agency."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 AP news agency.
On Saturday, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution urging an immediate end to all acts of violence by Israelis and Palestinians.On Saturday, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution urging an immediate end to all acts of violence by Israelis and Palestinians.
Included in this were Israeli incursions into the Gaza Strip and Palestinian rocket fire into Israel.Included in this were Israeli incursions into the Gaza Strip and Palestinian rocket fire into Israel.
The measure also called on UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to investigate the Israeli shelling of Beit Hanoun, which resulted in the deaths of 19 Palestinians earlier this month.The measure also called on UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to investigate the Israeli shelling of Beit Hanoun, which resulted in the deaths of 19 Palestinians earlier this month.
Suspended talks
Meanwhile, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud 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.
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.