Biggest Israel strike in months

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Source: CCTV.com | 11-02-2006 08:07

Israel has launched its biggest strike in months into northern Gaza. The raid on the town of Beit Hanoun killed seven Palestinians, including five militants. An Israeli soldier was also killed in gun-battles. The attack prompted retaliation from Palestinian gunmen, who later fired six homemade rockets at the Israeli border town of Sderot.

Israel's biggest Gaza raid in months began before dawn. Palestinian security sources have reported the deaths of seven Palestinians, five of whom were militants. They were killed in gun-fights around the northern town of Beit Hanoun, and also in tank shellings and strikes from helicopters circling above. Most of the fighters belonged to the armed wing of the Hamas group. Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh has denounced the attack as a "massacre". And the President, Mahmoud Abbas, has also roundly condemned this incursion, claiming Israel is only looking for excuses to wage a war.