- RAFAH, Gaza Strip (Reuters)
- Israeli soldiers shot and killed a 4-year-old Palestinian girl Saturday
in the latest bloodshed in the Rafah refugee camp, Palestinian medics and
witnesses said.
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- The army had no immediate comment on the incident, in
which witnesses said three other Palestinians were wounded.
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- Rawan Abu-Zeid's uncle Khader said the 4-year-old, who
had been cooped up inside since Israeli tanks and armored vehicles rumbled
into the camp Tuesday, had just left the house to buy something from a
nearby shop.
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- "She took half a shekel from her father and left
the house. As she left we heard heavy shooting and when we went out we
found her on the ground, two bullets in her neck and head," said Abu-Zeid,
noting Israelis snipers were positioned near the home.
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- Israel pulled tanks and troops out of the Rafah refugee
camp Friday, under international pressure to the end fighting, but said
the operation in the area was not over.
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- The 4-year-old's death brought to 42 the number of Palestinian
deaths in the camp since Tuesday.
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- Reporters on a tour of the area with Peter Hansen, chief
of the United Nations agency for refugees UNRWA, heard gunshots before
the girl was killed. "We have now confirmation from the hospital that
a girl was shot and killed in one of the two gun bursts we heard,"
Hansen said.
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- Also Saturday, medics reported the death of a 17-year-old
who died from wounds sustained in violence in Gaza City last week.
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- An Israeli military source said forces had been "thinned
out" in Rafah, a militant stronghold. Palestinian security sources
said most of the estimated 100 tanks and other vehicles that had rumbled
into the camp had left but some armor took up new positions outside the
camp.
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- Israel faced U.S. displeasure after forces killed 10
Palestinians at a peace protest Wednesday. Troops said they did not aim
to hit the rally.
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- Israel launched the raid after it lost 13 soldiers in
Gaza last week. Israeli officials have said the operation is intended to
uncover arms smuggling tunnels in the area.
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- Violence in Gaza has risen since Israeli Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon proposed evacuating troops and Jewish settlers in a plan backed
by most Israelis and the United States, but rejected by his right-wing
Likud party in a referendum this month.
-
- (Additional reporting by Shahdi al-Kashif)
- © Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.
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