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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US politicians in rare Gaza visit | US politicians in rare Gaza visit |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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 congressmen, Brian Baird and Keith Ellison, were due to meet the head of the UN relief agency, Unrwa. | The two congressmen, Brian Baird and Keith Ellison, were 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, which seized control of Gaza in 2007, as a terrorist organisation and will not deal with it. |
| The men are not likely to meet Hamas. Correspondents say their visit appears to be more humanitarian then political. | The men are not likely to meet Hamas. Correspondents say their visit appears to be more humanitarian then political. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Congressman Brian Baird: 'We wanted to witness the situation on the ground' | |
| A spokeswoman for the US consulate said it was thought to be the first visit by US congressmen for at least four years. | 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. | 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. |
| In addition, there have been security concerns since Palestinian militants blew up an American diplomatic convoy in October 2003, killing three people. | |
| "[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. | "[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. | 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. | Mr Ellison, from Minnesota, was the first Muslim elected to the US Congress, while Mr Baird, a clinical psychologist, is from Washington. |
| Rockets fired | Rockets 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.Many Gazans have been made homeless by the fighting | |
| The Israeli military confirmed it was carrying out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, but gave no further details. | The Israeli military confirmed it was carrying out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, but gave no further details. |
| This followed the launching of two rockets from Gaza into Israel on Thursday morning, after two mortars were fired the previous night. | This followed the launching of two rockets from Gaza into Israel on Thursday morning, after two mortars were fired the previous night. |
| 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. | 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 and 13 Israelis died during Israel's three-week operation 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. |