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| By: Associated Press |
| Published: December 31, 2004 |
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Two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli missile strike Friday, the second day of an army raid aimed at stopping Palestinian rocket fire from a refugee camp at nearby Jewish settlements.
In all, 12 Palestinians were killed in fighting in the Khan Younis refugee camp in southern Gaza since Thursday, hospital officials said.
The Israeli military said the two Palestinians hit by the missile Friday were militants. The army said the air force had spotted two armed Palestinians planting explosive devices near an Israeli military position and opened fire, hitting both.
Also Friday, a 16-year-old Palestinian died of wounds sustained Thursday, hospital officials said.
The Israeli military says its operation in Khan Younis is aimed at preventing militants from attacking nearby Jewish settlements. Earlier this month, a Thai worker died when a Palestinian mortar round hit the Jewish settlement of Ganei Tal.
In recent weeks, Palestinian militants have intensified mortar fire on Jewish settlements, ahead of Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip this summer.
Palestinian militant groups are jockeying for power in the post-Israel era and want to portray the Israeli pullback as retreat under fire. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has warned that he is determined to stop the mortar attacks.
Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat condemned the Kahn Younis raid. "I believe that this escalation, one week before the presidential election is seriously undermining this election," Erekat said.
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