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Israeli shelling kills 18 in Gaza Israeli shelling kills 18 in Gaza
(about 2 hours later)
At least 18 Palestinians have been killed and 40 wounded by Israeli tank fire in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, Palestinian sources have said.At least 18 Palestinians have been killed and 40 wounded by Israeli tank fire in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, Palestinian sources have said.
Palestinian officials said a barrage of tank shells hit civilian homes, and women and children were among the dead.Palestinian officials said a barrage of tank shells hit civilian homes, and women and children were among the dead.
Israel has expressed regret for the civilian deaths and says it is investigating the incident.Israel has expressed regret for the civilian deaths and says it is investigating the incident.
Palestinian leaders have called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting to force Israel to stop military raids.Palestinian leaders have called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting to force Israel to stop military raids.
The Palestinian prime minister, Hamas's Ismail Haniya, denounced the Israeli attack as an "awful massacre" and said talks on forming Palestinian unity government would be suspended.The Palestinian prime minister, Hamas's Ismail Haniya, denounced the Israeli attack as an "awful massacre" and said talks on forming Palestinian unity government would be suspended.
It is the saddest scene and images I have ever seen Eyewitness Attaf Hamad In pictures: Tank attack Town stunned by shelling It is the saddest scene and images I have ever seen Eyewitness Attaf Hamad In pictures: Tank attack Town stunned by shelling
Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz ordered the halt in artillery attacks and called for an urgent inquiry into the incident.Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz ordered the halt in artillery attacks and called for an urgent inquiry into the incident.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed regret over the killings and offered humanitarian assistance to the wounded.Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed regret over the killings and offered humanitarian assistance to the wounded.
Palestinian hospital officials said 13 of the dead belonged to the same family, and two of them were women and six were children.Palestinian hospital officials said 13 of the dead belonged to the same family, and two of them were women and six were children.
The Israelis withdrew from the town on Tuesday following a major offensive centred in Beit Hanoun.The Israelis withdrew from the town on Tuesday following a major offensive centred in Beit Hanoun.
More than 60 Palestinians and an Israeli soldier were killed in a week-long operation that Israel says was aimed at stopping militant rocket fire into Israel from Gaza.More than 60 Palestinians and an Israeli soldier were killed in a week-long operation that Israel says was aimed at stopping militant rocket fire into Israel from Gaza.
National morningNational morning
TV footage from Beit Hanoun showed the victims being taken to hospital in their sleeping clothes, some with terrible injuries.TV footage from Beit Hanoun showed the victims being taken to hospital in their sleeping clothes, some with terrible injuries.
Many of the dead were members of the same familyMany of the dead were members of the same family
"It is the saddest scene and images I have ever seen. We saw legs, we saw heads, we saw hands scattered in the street," 22-year-old eyewitness Attaf Hamad told Reuters news agency."It is the saddest scene and images I have ever seen. We saw legs, we saw heads, we saw hands scattered in the street," 22-year-old eyewitness Attaf Hamad told Reuters news agency.
"I saw people coming out of a house covered in blood. I started screaming to wake up the neighbours.""I saw people coming out of a house covered in blood. I started screaming to wake up the neighbours."
Palestinian leaders announced three days of national mourning throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip.Palestinian leaders announced three days of national mourning throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
A local Hamas leader has called for the group to resume suicide bombings inside Israel, a policy suspended two years ago by the main militant faction.A local Hamas leader has called for the group to resume suicide bombings inside Israel, a policy suspended two years ago by the main militant faction.
"Israel should be wiped from the face of the Earth. It is an animal state that recognises no human worth. It is a cancer that should be eradicated," said Ghazi Hamad, a spokesman for the Hamas-led government."Israel should be wiped from the face of the Earth. It is an animal state that recognises no human worth. It is a cancer that should be eradicated," said Ghazi Hamad, a spokesman for the Hamas-led government.
Shots have also been fired at the European Union office in Gaza City in an apparent retaliation, Palestinian authorities said.Shots have also been fired at the European Union office in Gaza City in an apparent retaliation, Palestinian authorities said.
Profile: Gaza Strip Profile: Gaza Strip href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6129288.stm" class="">In quotes: world reaction
Unidentified gunmen opened fire on the building and youths threw stones, Palestinian sources reported, adding no-one was injured in the attack.Unidentified gunmen opened fire on the building and youths threw stones, Palestinian sources reported, adding no-one was injured in the attack.
Israeli forces also killed a 17-year-old civilian near Jabaliya refugee camp, hospital officials in Gaza said.Israeli forces also killed a 17-year-old civilian near Jabaliya refugee camp, hospital officials in Gaza said.
Earlier, in a separate incident, five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli army raid near the West Bank town of Jenin.Earlier, in a separate incident, five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli army raid near the West Bank town of Jenin.
They were said to be members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, an armed offshoot of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement.They were said to be members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, an armed offshoot of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement.
The Israeli army said it had found large quantities of arms during its six-day operation throughout Beit Hanoun which ended 24 hours earlier.The Israeli army said it had found large quantities of arms during its six-day operation throughout Beit Hanoun which ended 24 hours earlier.
But rocket attacks have continued to hit Israel. Following the Beit Hanoun deaths, militants fired rockets the nearby border town of Sderot, causing minor wounds to an Israeli woman.But rocket attacks have continued to hit Israel. Following the Beit Hanoun deaths, militants fired rockets the nearby border town of Sderot, causing minor wounds to an Israeli woman.