This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6104858.stm
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Israel launches major Gaza raid | Israel launches major Gaza raid |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Six Palestinians and one Israeli soldier have been killed in heavy clashes in the northern Gaza Strip. | |
| In one of Israel's biggest raids into Gaza in recent months, troops carried out three air strikes and moved to encircle the town of Beit Hanoun. | |
| More than 35 people were wounded in the action, which is continuing. | More than 35 people were wounded in the action, which is continuing. |
| An Israeli military spokesman said the operation was aimed at stopping rocket fire into Israel. Palestinian leaders have strongly condemned it. | An Israeli military spokesman said the operation was aimed at stopping rocket fire into Israel. Palestinian leaders have strongly condemned it. |
| Both the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the prime minister, Ismail Haniya, have described the Israeli military action as a massacre. | Both the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the prime minister, Ismail Haniya, have described the Israeli military action as a massacre. |
| The Israeli army confirmed the death of one of its soldiers some hours after Palestinian militant groups issued statements saying they had killed an Israeli. | |
| Witnesses said Israeli tanks backed by helicopter gunships entered Beit Hanoun overnight, amid heavy exchanges of fire. | Witnesses said Israeli tanks backed by helicopter gunships entered Beit Hanoun overnight, amid heavy exchanges of fire. |
| Heavy fighting | Heavy fighting |
| Sixty tanks were involved in the attack, the AFP agency said. | Sixty tanks were involved in the attack, the AFP agency said. |
| The agency has reported that Israeli soldiers took positions on rooftops during exchanges of fire with militants. | The agency has reported that Israeli soldiers took positions on rooftops during exchanges of fire with militants. |
| Israeli troops entered Gaza in large numbers in a pre-dawn raid | Israeli troops entered Gaza in large numbers in a pre-dawn raid |
| Israeli bulldozers razed three houses in Beit Hanoun, and another dozen homes were hit by tank shells, the agency reported. | Israeli bulldozers razed three houses in Beit Hanoun, and another dozen homes were hit by tank shells, the agency reported. |
| There are reports of fighting in the nearby refugee camps of Jabaliya and town of Beit Lahiya. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |