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Gunmen barricaded in Gaza mosque Exchange of fire at Gaza mosque
(about 1 hour later)
Dozens of Palestinian gunmen have exchanged fire with Israeli forces from inside a mosque in the town of Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli forces surrounding a mosque in the town of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip have clashed with Palestinian gunmen inside.
Several dozen gunmen took refuge in the mosque, as Israeli forces sealed off the town and demanded their surrender. A number of gunmen took refuge there along with dozens of others.
Israel's military entered Beit Hanoun on Wednesday seeking, it said, to stop rockets being fired into Israel. There are reports of soldiers firing on groups of women who tried to approach the mosque to form a human shield. Two women are reported to have been killed.
Witnesses said bulldozers demolished a wall as the Israelis tried to force those inside to surrender.
There have been exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and the gunmen.
Israel's military entered and sealed Beit Hanoun on Wednesday seeking, it said, to stop rockets being fired into Israel.
Twenty Gazans and an Israeli soldier have died in the operation, one of the biggest in the strip in recent months.Twenty Gazans and an Israeli soldier have died in the operation, one of the biggest in the strip in recent months.
Human shield
Hamas radio broadcast a call for Palestinian women to form a human shield around the mosque.
In Gaza City overnight an Israeli air strike killed four Hamas militants.In Gaza City overnight an Israeli air strike killed four Hamas militants.
The four were travelling in a vehicle that was hit by a missile, Hamas and medical sources said.The four were travelling in a vehicle that was hit by a missile, Hamas and medical sources said.
A local commander of Hamas' military wing was reportedly among the casualties.A local commander of Hamas' military wing was reportedly among the casualties.
Toll rising
In Beit Hanoun, witnesses said bulldozers demolished a wall as the Israelis tried to force those inside to surrender.
But an Israeli military source told the BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem that the operation was not going as well as hoped.But an Israeli military source told the BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem that the operation was not going as well as hoped.
It is one of biggest Israeli incursions into Gaza in recent months.
Many of the 20 Palestinians killed in three days of violence have been gunmen, but a four-year-old boy died from his wounds overnight.Many of the 20 Palestinians killed in three days of violence have been gunmen, but a four-year-old boy died from his wounds overnight.
On Thursday, seven Palestinians were killed in northern Gaza.On Thursday, seven Palestinians were killed in northern Gaza.
Both the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya have described the Beit Hanoun operation as a massacre.Both the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya have described the Beit Hanoun operation as a massacre.
The Israeli army confirmed that one of its soldiers had been killed on Wednesday.The Israeli army confirmed that one of its soldiers had been killed on Wednesday.
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.
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.