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| Israeli army 'kills six' in Gaza | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least six Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian security and medical officials say. | At least six Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian security and medical officials say. |
| Israeli troops carried out three air strikes and moved to take control of and encircle the town of Beit Hanoun. | |
| More than 33 people were wounded in the action, which is continuing. | More than 33 people were wounded in the action, which is continuing. |
| An Israeli military spokesman confirmed that a "major operation" was under way. Large numbers of tanks and helicopter gunships have been deployed. | |
| The spokesman said "30 armed Palestinians were hit". The operation was aimed at stopping rocket fire into Israel, he said. | |
| Witnesses said Israeli tanks backed by helicopter gunships entered Beit Hanoun overnight, amid heavy exchanges of fire. | |
| Heavy fighting | |
| Sixty tanks were involved in the attack, the AFP agency said. | |
| The agency has reported that Israeli soldiers took positions of rooftops during exchanges of fire with militants. | |
| Israeli bulldozers razed three houses in Beit Hanoun, and another dozen homes were hit by tank shells, the agency reported. | |
| Statements from militant groups in Gaza say that an Israeli soldier was killed during the operation. The Israeli military has not commented on this. | |
| There are reports of fighting in the nearby refugee camps of Jabaliya and town of Beit Lahiya. | |
| Among those killed are a Palestinian policeman and militants. | |
| On Tuesday, Israeli forces killed two Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip in a clash in the south near Khan Younis. | On Tuesday, Israeli forces killed two Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip in a clash in the south near Khan Younis. |
| Captured soldier | Captured soldier |
| Israeli forces have made regular incursions into Gaza since late June, following the capture of an Israeli soldier in a cross-border raid by Palestinian militants. | Israeli forces have made regular incursions into Gaza since late June, following the capture of an Israeli soldier in a cross-border raid by Palestinian militants. |
| Reports say an inner cabinet of top ministers which met to review the situation in Gaza has decided not to expand the military offensive in Gaza. | |
| Wednesday's attack comes amid some sign of movement to end the deadlock over Israeli soldier Cpl Gilad Shalit, who was captured on 25 June by Palestinian militants. | |
| A Hamas delegation is in Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials on a possible prisoner exchange in return for his release. | A Hamas delegation is in Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials on a possible prisoner exchange in return for his release. |
| Egypt has been acting as a mediator since Cpl Shalit's capture. | Egypt has been acting as a mediator since Cpl Shalit's capture. |
| Since his capture, more than 300 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli army operations in Gaza and the West Bank, according to Israeli human rights group B'Tselem. | Since his capture, more than 300 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli army operations in Gaza and the West Bank, according to Israeli human rights group B'Tselem. |