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US congressmen in rare Gaza visit US politicians in rare Gaza visit
(about 2 hours later)
Two US congressmen are in Gaza in the first such visit to the Hamas-run territory in the past four years. Former US presidential candidate John Kerry and two US congressmen are in Gaza in the first such visit to the Hamas-run Strip since 2007.
The two Democrats, Brian Baird and Keith Ellison, were visiting an area in north Gaza hit hard during the recent Israeli assault. The two congressmen, Brian Baird and Keith Ellison, were due to meet the head of the UN relief agency, Unrwa.
They were also due to meet the head of the UN relief agency, Unrwa. The US views Hamas, which seized control of Gaza in 2007, as a terrorist organisation and will not deal with it.
The US views Hamas as a terrorist organisation. The Palestinian militant group won elections in 2006 and consolidated control by force in 2007. The men are not likely to meet Hamas. Correspondents say their visit appears to be more humanitarian then political.
A spokeswoman for the US consulate said it was the first visit by US congressmen for at least four years. As the head of the Senate Foreign Committee, Mr Kerry is a senior Democrat, but all three men are visiting Gaza in their capacity is lawmakers, not representatives of the administration of US President Barack Obama.
Mr Ellison, from Minnesota, was the first Muslim elected to the US Congress, while Mr Baird, a clinical psychologist, is from Washington. A spokeswoman for the US consulate said it was thought to be the first visit by US congressmen for at least four years.
Hamas won elections in 2006 and consolidated control by force in 2007.
Like Israel, the EU and the UN, the US government officials refuse to deal with the militant group.Like Israel, the EU and the UN, the US government officials refuse to deal with the militant group.
Correspondents say it is considered unlikely that the two congressmen will meet with Hamas members. In addition, there have been security concerns since Palestinian militants blew up an American diplomatic convoy in October 2003, killing three people.Many Gazans have been made homeless by the fighting
"[The visit] does not indicate any shift whatsoever with respect to Hamas... what it indicates is our effort to listen and to learn," Mr Kerry said, according to the AFP news agency.
He was speaking as he visited the Israeli town of Sderot, a target of Palestinian rocket attacks, before entering Gaza.
Mr Ellison, from Minnesota, was the first Muslim elected to the US Congress, while Mr Baird, a clinical psychologist, is from Washington.
Rockets firedRockets fired
Their visit came as violent incidents tested the unilateral ceasefires Israel and Hamas have both declared, amid Egyptian-brokered attempts to reach a firmer truce deal.Their visit came as violent incidents tested the unilateral ceasefires Israel and Hamas have both declared, amid Egyptian-brokered attempts to reach a firmer truce deal.
The Israeli military said its forces had crossed into Gaza and shot and lightly injured a Palestinian near the border fence. The Israeli military confirmed it was carrying out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, but gave no further details.
The military said the man's behaviour raised suspicions he was attempting to plant a bomb. This followed the launching of two rockets from Gaza into Israel on Thursday morning, after two mortars were fired the previous night.
Two rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel on Thursday morning, following two mortars the previous night, the Israeli military said. The Israeli military said its forces had also crossed into Gaza and shot and lightly injured a Palestinian near the border fence, after the man's behaviour raised suspicions he was attempting to plant a bomb.
About 1,300 Palestinians died during Israel's three-week operations in January, which was aimed at halting Palestinian rocket fire into Israel. About 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis died during Israel's three-week operation in January, which was aimed at halting Palestinian rocket fire into Israel.
Since Israel withdrew its forces from Gaza, sporadic rocket and mortar fire has continued, while Israel has carried out several airstrikes against smuggling tunnels in the south of Gaza, and what it says are militant facilities elsewhere in the territory.Since Israel withdrew its forces from Gaza, sporadic rocket and mortar fire has continued, while Israel has carried out several airstrikes against smuggling tunnels in the south of Gaza, and what it says are militant facilities elsewhere in the territory.