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/6112386.stm

The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 16 Version 17
Gaza women killed in mosque siege Gaza women killed in mosque siege
(about 1 hour 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 mosque in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza.
The Israeli military said the militants escaped by mingling with the women, who were acting as human shields. One of the women told the BBC they had dressed the militants in women's clothes to help them escape.
The army said it was investigating the reports of deaths and that there had been armed men in the crowd. The Israeli military said the women were used as "human shields" and that there had been armed men in the crowd.
The gunmen had sheltered in the mosque during a three-day Israeli raid in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun. Reports said at least 16 Palestinians were killed on Friday, the third day of a major Israeli raid on Beit Hanoun.
Later on Friday, Israeli carried out a series of air strikes on locations in Gaza. Several of the dead were killed during a series of air strikes which took place after dark on sites across Gaza.
At least one Palestinian died at a building used as a mosque in Beit Hanoun, another was killed close to nearby Beit Lahiya, and two more were killed in the Jabaliya refugee camp, also in northern Gaza. At least one Palestinian died at a building used as a mosque in Beit Hanoun, another was killed close to nearby Beit Lahiya; two more were killed in the Jabaliya refugee camp, also in northern Gaza.
In Rafah in southern Gaza, four members of a security force linked to Hamas were wounded when their vehicle was hit in an air strike. In Rafah in southern Gaza, a member of a security force linked to Hamas was killed and three wounded when their vehicle was hit in an air strike.
An Israeli military spokesman said five air strikes had taken place, targeting suspected militants who were planting explosives or involved in rocket attacks on Israel.
Hamas appealHamas appeal
In the Beit Hanoun operation, 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. In the dramatic mosque rescue, Hamas radio issued an appeal to local women when a tense stand-off developed between Israeli forces surrounding the building and up to 15 militants who had taken refuge inside.
We risked our lives to free our sons Um Mohammed, Beit Hanoun woman href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6113102.stm" class="">In pictures: Gaza offensive Israeli troops had moved in and sealed the town off on Wednesday, in one of the biggest offensives in recent months, which Israel says is aimed at stopping militants firing rockets into Israel. One of the women, Nahed Abou Harbiya, described what happened to the BBC Arabic Service.
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. We risked our lives to free our sons Um Mohammed, Beit Hanoun woman href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6113102.stm" class="">In pictures: Gaza offensive "All the women headed to the mosque to get the Palestinian resistance men... But the Israeli occupation forces were firing heavily at us with their machine guns and also threw stun grenades at us.
Shots were fired as they approached Israeli forces. As some of the women tried to pass the troops, further shots came and two women fell to the ground. "We entered the mosque and indeed we got all the resistance men out and put female attire on them so that the Israeli occupation forces wouldn't arrest them," she said.
Israeli troops had moved in and sealed the town off on Wednesday, in one of the biggest offensives in recent months, which Israel says is aimed at stopping militants firing rockets into Israel.
Shots were fired as the women approached Israeli forces. As some of the women tried to pass the troops, 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. "We risked our lives to free our sons," Um Mohammed, a woman in her 40s, told the AFP news agency afterwards.
Hamas radio reported that all of the militants in the mosque escaped and were uninjured.
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.
"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."
Press despair over Gaza raid 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. Press despair over Gaza raid Gaza's rocket threat
"We risked our lives to free our sons," Um Mohammed, a woman in her 40s, told the AFP news agency afterwards. The BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem says that in television footage of the incident, some men are visible in the crowd, but there is no evidence that they were carrying guns.
"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.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, of Hamas, said the event was part of a "planned annihilation" of the Palestinians.Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, of Hamas, said the event was part of a "planned annihilation" of the Palestinians.
He called on UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to come to see what he described as "massacres" committed against them.He called on UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to come to see what he described as "massacres" committed against them.
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
  • At least one Palestinian youth died during an Israeli operation in the West bank town of Nablus
  • At least one Palestinian youth died during an Israeli operation in the West bank town of Nablus
    • Major raidMajor 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. About 30 Palestinians and an Israeli soldier have died in violence 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.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.