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Gaza women end mosque stand-off Gaza women 'die in mosque siege'
(about 4 hours later)
A siege at a mosque in the Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun has ended after Israeli forces entered the compound and found no-one there, Israel's army says. Two women have been killed as Israeli troops opened fire on a crowd of women gathered to help besieged gunmen flee a Gaza mosque, witnesses and doctors say.
An Israeli military spokesman told the BBC they believe the dozen Palestinian gunmen escaped by mingling with a crowd of women who had formed a human shield. The Israeli military said the army believed the Palestinian militants escaped by mingling with the women, who were acting as human shields.
The women went to the mosque after an appeal on Hamas radio. Two were reportedly killed by Israeli gunfire. The army told the BBC the troops fired in response to shots from militants.
The gunmen had sheltered in the mosque during a three-day Israeli raid in the north Gaza town of Beit Hanoun.
The siege ended when Israeli forces entered the compound and found no-one there, Israel's army says.
Dozens of women had gathered outside the mosque after an appeal on local radio.
We risked our lives to free our sons Um Mohammed, Beit Hanoun woman In pictures: Gaza offensive Reports say at least one of the women died as Israeli troops opened fire on a group of protesters as they marched towards to the mosque.
Israeli military spokeswoman Avital Leibovich said: "We saw crowds of women. Behind the women hid some of the militants. Some of them were even dressed up as women: we have footage.
"Unfortunately because the militants shot at our forces, sometimes we had to respond."
Israel entered Beit Hanoun on Wednesday to stop rocket attacks, it said.Israel entered Beit Hanoun on Wednesday to stop rocket attacks, it said.
Rocket attacks by militants against towns close to the Gaza border, including Sderot and Ashkelon, have continued since Israel pulled its troops out of Gaza in 2005.Rocket attacks by militants against towns close to the Gaza border, including Sderot and Ashkelon, have continued since Israel pulled its troops out of Gaza in 2005.
Bulldozer assaultBulldozer assault
In one of the biggest operations in the Gaza Strip in recent months, Israeli troops moved in and sealed the town off.In one of the biggest operations in the Gaza Strip in recent months, Israeli troops moved in and sealed the town off.
Twenty Palestinians and an Israeli soldier died in the fighting that ensued. Many of the 20 Palestinians killed were gunmen, but a four-year-old boy died from his wounds overnight. At least 20 Palestinians and an Israeli soldier died in the fighting that ensued. Many of those killed were gunmen, but a four-year-old boy died from his wounds overnight.
We risked our lives to free our sons Um Mohammed, Beit Hanoun woman In pictures: Gaza offensive
A tense stand-off developed after Israeli forces surrounded the mosque, where Palestinian gunmen had taken refuge along with about 60 others.A tense stand-off developed after Israeli forces surrounded the mosque, where Palestinian gunmen had taken refuge along with about 60 others.
Witnesses said bulldozers demolished a wall as the Israelis tried to force those inside to surrender and there were exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and the gunmen.Witnesses said bulldozers demolished a wall as the Israelis tried to force those inside to surrender and there were exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and the gunmen.
However, following an appeal on Hamas radio, over 100 women approached the compound in groups. However, following an appeal on Hamas radio, more than 100 women approached the compound in groups.
Running to safetyRunning to safety
"We risked our lives to free our sons," Um Mohammed, a woman in her 40s, told the AFP news agency afterwards."We risked our lives to free our sons," Um Mohammed, a woman in her 40s, told the AFP news agency afterwards.
"Hundreds of us entered the mosque and surrounded the resistance fighters to protect them," 21-year-old Nidaa al-Radih said."Hundreds of us entered the mosque and surrounded the resistance fighters to protect them," 21-year-old Nidaa al-Radih said.
Press despair over Gaza raid Gaza's rocket threatPress despair over Gaza raid Gaza's rocket threat
With the gunmen shielded within their midst the women ran to an area north-west of the town which is clear of Israeli troops. With the gunmen shielded within their midst, the women ran to an area north-west of the town which is clear of Israeli troops.
There have been reports that the Israeli soldiers fired on the groups of women. Two women are reported to have been killed.
Hamas radio has since reported that all of the militants in the mosque had escaped and were uninjured.Hamas radio has since reported that all of the militants in the mosque had escaped and were uninjured.
The BBC's Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says that Israel's most immediate aim is to prevent rocket attacks against its territory, but beyond that it wants to strike a decisive blow at the militant group Hamas. BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says that Israel's most immediate aim is to prevent rocket attacks against its territory, but beyond that it wants to strike a decisive blow at Hamas.
Israeli officials are convinced Hamas has been acquiring new weapons and wants to turn Gaza into an even stronger base for attacks against them, just as the Lebanese group Hezbollah did on their northern border.Israeli officials are convinced Hamas has been acquiring new weapons and wants to turn Gaza into an even stronger base for attacks against them, just as the Lebanese group Hezbollah did on their northern border.
In other developments:In other developments:
  • An Israeli air strike on Gaza City kills four Hamas militants, with a local commander of Hamas' military wing reportedly among the casualties
  • An Israeli air strike on Gaza City killed four Hamas militants, with a local commander of Hamas' military wing reportedly among the casualties
  • The Palestinian Housing Minister is arrested by Israeli troops in the West Bank town of Ramallah
    		•
  • The Palestinian housing minister was arrested by Israeli troops in the West Bank town of Ramallah
  • An elderly Palestinian woman is killed in the West Bank town of Bethlehem during an Israeli army arrest raid.
    		•
  • An elderly Palestinian woman was killed in the West Bank town of Bethlehem during an Israeli army arrest raid.
    • Both the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya have described the Beit Hanoun operation as a massacre. Both Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya have described the Beit Hanoun operation as a massacre.
    Israeli forces have made regular incursions into Gaza and the West Bank following the capture of an Israeli soldier, Cpl Gilad Shalit, in a cross-border raid by Palestinian militants on 25 June.Israeli forces have made regular incursions into Gaza and the West Bank following the capture of an Israeli soldier, Cpl Gilad Shalit, in a cross-border raid by Palestinian militants on 25 June.
    More than 300 Palestinians have been killed in army operations since then, according to Israeli human rights group B'Tselem.More than 300 Palestinians have been killed in army operations since then, according to Israeli human rights group B'Tselem.