- Title: GAZA: Israeli airstrike hit Hamas compound in Gaza
- Date: 27th May 2007
- Summary: AMBULANCES AT SITE
- Embargoed: 11th June 2007 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA8NGMDIM2XBRTDO620JMJFA0B7
- Story Text: A fresh Israeli strike on Gaza damages building. A fresh Israeli airstrike on Gaza Strip on Saturday evening (May 26) hit a building, causing damage but no casualties.
Earlier on Saturday, Israel pressed ahead with an air offensive in Gaza on Saturday, killing five Palestinian gunmen and arrested another Palestinian cabinet minister in the West Bank as Gaza militants continued cross-border rocket fire.
Such violence has surged in recent weeks, dashing hopes for a renewed truce called for by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Israel's latest air strike destroyed a building used by a security force run by the Islamist militant group Hamas.
Israel has killed more than 40 Palestinians, mainly militants, in Gaza since mid-May. Gaza militants have fired 220 rockets since then, including some on Saturday. An Israeli woman died in such an attack earlier this week.
Most of the West has launched an aid embargo against the Palestinian government, demanding Hamas, which won a parliamentary election last year, renounce violence and recognise Israel and past Palestinian peace agreements with it.
Abbas's secular Fatah group is part of a unity coalition with Hamas, but the two have struggled to stop internal fighting, which killed some 50 Palestinians this month.
Earlier, Israeli troops detained a Palestinian cabinet minister in the West Bank, following a similar roundup of officials from the group, which is part of a unity government with President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction, earlier this week.
Israel conducted similar raids last year in a bid to put pressure on Hamas after it won the parliamentary election. Hamas had led a suicide bombing campaign against the Jewish state for years, including during a Palestinian uprising in 2000.
Most Palestinian factions, including Hamas, agreed to a ceasefire several months ago following talks with Abbas and Arab officials abroad, which they said was conditional to Israel stopping its own attacks. The truce ended amid new violence.
Abbas wants both sides to agree to a new ceasefire as a step towards reviving peace talks with Israel. Hamas has resisted his call but is aware the fighting has deepened Palestinian rancour at the government.
Israeli officials doubt any truce will last if Hamas can continue smuggling arms into Gaza from Egypt. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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