Region | Palestinian Territories
Eight killed as Israel re-enters Gaza
Israel upped its offensive against Gaza on Thursday, moving troops back into Southern Gaza and firing aircraft missiles
- Agencies
- Published: 23:34 May 3, 2009
Gaza City: Israel upped its offensive against Gaza on Thursday, moving troops back into Southern Gaza and firing aircraft missiles, Palestinian officials said.
At least eight Palestinians were killed including four militants and an eight year old boy, in the latest stage of the month long offensive.
Witnesses and Palestinian security officials said about 50 tanks and bulldozers crossed into Gaza, taking positions in a village near the town of Rafah and Gaza airport. The five mile Israeli advance is the furthest since the start of their offensive in late June.
Troops took control of the main highway and blocked the eastern entrance of Rafah, near the Gaza-Egypt border.
Twenty-six Palestinians were injured and four militants killed, by aircraft missiles, said security and hospital officials.
Forces later fired a tank shell at a group of residents, killing an 8-year-old boy and wounding three people, including a 4-year-old girl.
At least 119 people have been killed in Gaza since the offensive began, most of them militants.
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