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Gaza women killed in mosque siege Gaza women killed in mosque siege
(30 minutes later)
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.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.
The Israeli military said the militants escaped by mingling with the women, who were acting as human shields.The Israeli military said the militants escaped by mingling with the women, who were acting as human shields.
The army said it was investigating the reports of deaths and that troops fired after shots came from within the crowd.The army said it was investigating the reports of deaths and that troops fired after shots came from within the crowd.
The gunmen had sheltered in the mosque during a three-day Israeli raid in the north Gaza town of Beit Hanoun.The gunmen had sheltered in the mosque during a three-day Israeli raid in the north Gaza town of Beit Hanoun.
Israeli troops moved in and sealed the town off on Wednesday, in one of its biggest operations in recent months. In a separate incident, an Israeli air strike hit another building used as a mosque on the outskirts of the town.
The military said the raid was aimed at stopping militants firing rockets into Israel. Witnesses told the Associated Press that one person had been killed.
Hamas appeal
Israeli troops moved in and sealed the town off on Wednesday, in one of its biggest operations in recent months, said to be aimed at stopping militants firing rockets into Israel.
We risked our lives to free our sons Um Mohammed, Beit Hanoun woman In pictures: Gaza offensiveWe risked our lives to free our sons Um Mohammed, Beit Hanoun woman In pictures: Gaza offensive
A tense stand-off developed on Friday after Israeli forces surrounded the mosque, where at least 15 Palestinian gunmen, thought to be mainly from the military wing of Hamas, had taken refuge.A tense stand-off developed on Friday after Israeli forces surrounded the mosque, where at least 15 Palestinian gunmen, thought to be mainly from the military wing of Hamas, had taken refuge.
After an appeal by the militant group Hamas was broadcast on local radio, a crowd of up to 200 women began marching towards the mosque.After an appeal by the militant group Hamas was broadcast on local radio, a crowd of up to 200 women began marching towards the mosque.
Shots were fired as they tried to pass Israeli forces. As the women continued to advance, further shots came, and two women fell to the ground.Shots were fired as they tried to pass Israeli forces. As the women continued to advance, further shots came, and two women fell to the ground.
At least 10 women and a Palestinian cameraman were injured.At least 10 women and a Palestinian cameraman were injured.
The militants escaped from the mosque in the confusion that followed.The militants escaped from the mosque in the confusion that followed.
Men 'disguised'Men 'disguised'
Israeli military spokeswoman Avital Leibovich said: "Unfortunately, maybe one woman was killed - I don't know if it's by IDF or not. But our purpose is definitely not to hit the innocent ones."Israeli military spokeswoman Avital Leibovich said: "Unfortunately, maybe one woman was killed - I don't know if it's by IDF or not. But our purpose is definitely not to hit the innocent ones."
href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6108988.stm" class="">Press despair over Gaza raid href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/3702088.stm" class="">Gaza's rocket threat "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," she 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," she said.
"Unfortunately because the militants shot at our forces, sometimes we had to respond.""Unfortunately because the militants shot at our forces, sometimes we had to respond."
At least two men disguised in women's clothes were seen being embraced by jubilant bystanders as the women rushed away from the mosque, the Associated Press reported. href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6108988.stm" class="">Press despair over Gaza raid href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/3702088.stm" class="">Gaza's rocket threat At least two men disguised in women's clothes were seen being embraced by jubilant bystanders as the women rushed away from the mosque, the Associated Press reported.
"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.
Hamas radio has reported that all of the militants in the mosque escaped and were uninjured.Hamas radio has reported that all of the militants in the mosque escaped and were uninjured.
Major raid Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, of Hamas, said the event was part of a "planned annihilation" of the Palestinians.
At least 23 Palestinians and an Israeli soldier have died in clashes since the Israeli operation began on Wednesday. Many of those killed were gunmen, but a four-year-old boy died from his wounds overnight. He called on UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to come to see what he described as "massacres" committed against them.
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.
In other developments:In other developments:
  • An Israeli air strike on Gaza City killed 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 was 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 was 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 Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya have described the Beit Hanoun operation as a massacre. Major raid
    At least 23 Palestinians and an Israeli soldier have died in clashes since the Israeli operation in Beit Hanoun began on Wednesday. Many of those killed were gunmen, but a four-year-old boy died from his wounds overnight.
    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 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.