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| 'Two killed' in new Gaza violence | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An Israeli soldier and a Palestinian are reported to have been killed in violence on the Israel-Gaza border. | |
| The soldier was killed when his patrol was hit by an explosion, Arab news channels reported, and gunfire killed a Palestinian soon after, medics said. | |
| The Israeli military did not confirm the death but said the blast hit a patrol on Israel's side of the border. | |
| If confirmed, it would be the first Israeli death since Israel and Hamas declared ceasefires over a week ago. | |
| Arab news channels said one Israeli soldier had been killed and three injured in the explosion. | Arab news channels said one Israeli soldier had been killed and three injured in the explosion. |
| The Israeli military would not confirm the casualties until next of kin had been informed, but said a mine had been detonated in the path of a patrol. | The Israeli military would not confirm the casualties until next of kin had been informed, but said a mine had been detonated in the path of a patrol. |
| No Palestinian militant group has said it carried out the attack. | No Palestinian militant group has said it carried out the attack. |
| Palestinian residents of Kissufim, next to a border crossing into Gaza, said they could hear Israeli helicopters circling overhead and the sound of heavy gunfire. | |
| Medics in Gaza said the Palestinian killed was a farmer hit by gunfire. | |
| Ceasefire negotiations | Ceasefire negotiations |
| Israel and Hamas declared separate ceasefires on 17 and 18 January, ending a three-week Israeli offensive in which nearly 1,300 Palestinians and 10 Israeli soldiers were killed. Three Israeli civilians were killed by rocket fire from Gaza in the same period. | Israel and Hamas declared separate ceasefires on 17 and 18 January, ending a three-week Israeli offensive in which nearly 1,300 Palestinians and 10 Israeli soldiers were killed. Three Israeli civilians were killed by rocket fire from Gaza in the same period. |
| Israel said its objective was to stop militant rocket fire into southern Israel from Gaza. | Israel said its objective was to stop militant rocket fire into southern Israel from Gaza. |
| Egyptian mediators have been meeting separately with Israel and Hamas, which controls Gaza, to negotiate a more permanent ceasefire. | Egyptian mediators have been meeting separately with Israel and Hamas, which controls Gaza, to negotiate a more permanent ceasefire. |
| US President Barack Obama has sent his newly-appointed Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, to the region to discuss the ceasefire efforts. | US President Barack Obama has sent his newly-appointed Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, to the region to discuss the ceasefire efforts. |
| Hamas wants the border crossings into Gaza re-opened, including the Rafah crossing into Egypt, to end the Israeli blockade which has strangled the territory's economy. | Hamas wants the border crossings into Gaza re-opened, including the Rafah crossing into Egypt, to end the Israeli blockade which has strangled the territory's economy. |
| Israel wants to stop the rocket fire and prevent Hamas militants from re-arming via smuggling tunnels under the border with Egypt. | Israel wants to stop the rocket fire and prevent Hamas militants from re-arming via smuggling tunnels under the border with Egypt. |