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Militant dead in major Gaza raid Two Palestinians die in Gaza raid
(about 2 hours later)
Israeli troops have launched a major raid on a militant stronghold in Gaza, killing a local Hamas leader. Two Palestinians, one an elderly woman, were killed as Israeli troops launched deep raids into the Gaza Strip targeting militant strongholds.
Troops and tanks took part in the operation in Gaza City's Zeitoun district, which led to a gun battle with militants. Armoured vehicles backed with infantry poured into the Zeitoun area of Gaza City, sparking clashes with militants.
Palestinian officials said an elderly woman also died in the fighting. Sadia Haraz, 70, was killed by Israeli tank fire, medics said. A 26-year-old militant was also killed by troops.
The Israeli military frequently launches raids in Gaza, in attempts to stop rocket fire into Israel from Palestinian militants. Hours later a rocket fired by militants exploded in the Israeli border city of Sderot, seriously wounding one man.
An Israeli man was seriously injured in a rocket attack early on Monday in an industrial zone near the town of Sderot, Israeli officials said. The Israeli military frequently launches raids into Gaza, to stop such rocket fire. Palestinian militants say their attacks are to retaliate for deadly military action by Israel.
The rocket fell a few hundred metres from a car carrying the UN high commissioner for human rights, Louise Arbour, but no members of her delegation were hurt in the attack. The rocket aimed at Sderot fell a few hundred metres from a car carrying the UN high commissioner for human rights, Louise Arbour, who was visiting the town at the time.
Ms Arbour had been visiting Gaza and has now arrived in Sderot. Fake gun
Surrender call Israel troops entered Zeitoun on the east edge of Gaza City during the night and took up sniper positions on rooftops.
A column of Israeli tanks and armoured vehicles entered Zeitoun on Tuesday morning, as troops took up sniper positions on rooftops. The home of a Hamas commander, Wael Hassanin, 26, was stormed after troops called for him and his brother Ibrahim to surrender.
The home of Hamas commander Wael Hassanin was stormed as troops called for him and his brother Ibrahim to surrender. I saw civilians [in Beit Hanoun] who feel terribly exposed, very abandoned and I have a sense there is the same thing here [in Sderot] UN human rights official Louise Arbour
Mr Hassanin died in the ensuing fighting. Witnesses say his brother was arrested. Mr Hassanin was shot dead. Witnesses say his brother was arrested.
The Israeli military said other operations were taking place around northern Gaza. The Israeli military said other operations were taking place in the heavily populated Jabaliya refugee camp and the town of Beit Lahiya.
The incursion was launched hours after an Israeli missile strike in Gaza killed two Palestinian militants and injured at least four other people. The incursion was launched hours after an Israeli missile strike in Gaza killed two Palestinian militants and injured at least four other people, including children.
The militants - from an armed faction of Hamas - died when an Israeli aircraft targeted their car in Gaza City.
In the West Bank, the Israeli army said soldiers had shot dead a 17-year-old Palestinian who had approached them with what later turned out to be a fake gun.In the West Bank, the Israeli army said soldiers had shot dead a 17-year-old Palestinian who had approached them with what later turned out to be a fake gun.
It said an investigation had been launched into the incident on Monday near the town of Jericho. Critical issue
Ms Arbour's convoy was pelted with stones by angry residents of Sderot, an economically depressed Israeli town which has borne the brunt of rocket attacks that have killed nine people in southern Israel in recent years.
She said the protection of Israeli and Palestinian civilians caught up in the conflict was "an absolutely critical issue".
The rocket landed several hundred metres from her car, her spokesman said, the UN delegation "heard very loud explosions" and saw two plumes of smoke.
"I want to express my sympathy to the family of the person who was wounded, to say how much I share their sense of hopelessness and vulnerability and frustration at being so exposed," Ms Arbour said.
On Monday, she toured Beit Hanoun where Israeli shelling killed 19 Palestinian civilians two weeks ago. Israel said it had made a targeting error.
Earlier this month the town was also the target of major Israeli ground offensive that left 80 people dead.
"I saw civilians, mothers, who lost their children, who feel... terribly exposed, terribly vulnerable, extremely afraid, very abandoned and I have a sense there is the same thing here [in Sderot]," Ms Arbour told reporters.
Israel pulled settlers and military bases from Gaza last year, but the military renewed ground operations after militants captured an Israeli soldier in a border raid in June.
Since then, Israeli troops have killed about 400 Palestinians in Gaza, roughly half of them civilians. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed and a woman in Sderot has died in a rocket strike.