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Gunmen escape Gaza mosque siege Gunmen escape Gaza mosque siege
(10 minutes later)
The Israeli army says the siege at a mosque in the town of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza Strip is over.The Israeli army says the siege at a mosque in the town of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza Strip is over.
A spokesman said Israeli forces had entered the compound and there was no-one inside.A spokesman said Israeli forces had entered the compound and there was no-one inside.
He told the BBC that gunmen who were holed up in the mosque had escaped when a crowd of women approached it.He told the BBC that gunmen who were holed up in the mosque had escaped when a crowd of women approached it.
A tense standoff developed after Israeli forces surrounded the mosque, where Palestinian gunmen had taken refuge along with dozens of others.A tense standoff developed after Israeli forces surrounded the mosque, where Palestinian gunmen had taken refuge along with dozens of others.
Hamas radio has reported that the all the militants in the mosque had escaped and were uninjured.
There have been reports of Israeli soldiers firing on the groups of women who approached the mosque, after an appeal on Hamas radio, 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 and there have been exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and the gunmen.
Israel's military entered and sealed of Beit Hanoun on Wednesday seeking, it said, to stop rockets being fired into Israel.Israel's military entered and sealed of Beit Hanoun on Wednesday seeking, it said, to stop rockets being fired into Israel.
Twenty Palestinians and an Israeli soldier have died in the operation, one of the biggest in the strip in recent months.Twenty Palestinians and an Israeli soldier have died in the operation, one of the biggest in the strip in recent months.
Human shieldHuman shield
Hamas radio has reported that the all the militants in the mosque had escaped and were uninjured.
Press despair over Gaza raid Gaza's rocket threat
There have been reports of Israeli soldiers firing on the groups of women who approached the mosque, after an appeal on Hamas radio, 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 and there have been exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and the gunmen.
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.
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.
Three days of violence
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.