NewsMine — war-on-terror — israel — hostilities — 2005 — 05-jan-may — Viewing Item

Israeli forces kill palestinian gunman in gaza { May 20 2005 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=8557913 http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=8557913 Israeli forces kill Palestinian gunman in Gaza Fri May 20, 2005 07:10 AM ET By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli forces killed a Palestinian gunman during an assault on a Jewish settlement in Gaza on Friday amid the biggest flareup of violence since a truce declared three months ago. The clash came a day after Israel's defense chief ordered the army to use "all necessary means" to stop militants firing a barrage of mortars and rockets at Israeli targets. But despite the fraying of the ceasefire, both sides have signaled reluctance to abandon it altogether and return to the full-scale conflict of the past 4-1/2 years. The Islamist group Hamas claimed joint responsibility along with the Fatah-linked al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and the Popular Resistance Committees for sending the three-man cell that carried out Friday's attack against the Kfar Darom settlement. Hamas, sworn to Israel's destruction, said it remained committed to the ceasefire but was avenging the deaths of two of its fighters in the Gaza Strip this week. Israeli officials believe Hamas's chief aim is to sharpen its challenge to moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose planned White House talks next week with President Bush could be clouded by the violence. Israel renewed its warning to the Palestinian Authority, saying it must rein in militants or else the army would act. The Palestinian Authority promised "every effort to maintain calm." Military sources say any Israeli response will be measured to avoid a serious escalation that could complicate a planned Israeli withdrawal from occupied Gaza in mid-August. Responding to U.S. appeals to help defuse tensions, Israel's cabinet was expected in the coming days to consider a list of 400 Palestinian prisoners to be freed in accordance with the February truce deal, officials said. Israel has held up the release, and there has been no word on when it might go forward. SETTLEMENT ATTACK Early on Friday, gunmen took over an abandoned building near Kfar Darom in southern Gaza and fired at the heavily fortified settlement with light arms and anti-tank rockets, the army said. A Hamas man was killed and another militant wounded in the ensuing gun battle with Israeli troops. A third attacker fled. There were no reports of Israeli casualties. "Amid continued Zionist crimes, we find ourselves with no choice but to defend our people by all means available," Hamas spokesman Mushir Al-Masri said. A Hamas militant was killed on Wednesday in an Israeli missile strike on a cell firing mortars at nearby settlements. A second Hamas fighter was killed under disputed circumstances. Since then, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz has given the army a freer hand to deter attacks. But eight mortar bombs hit settlements overnight, continuing this week's barrage. Sharon, determined to implement the Gaza pullout on schedule, wants the army to send a warning it will not tolerate attacks in the runup to the evacuation of Gaza's 21 settlements. Israel sees Hamas's actions as a message to Abbas that it has a role in calling the shots. The truce engineered by Abbas is seen as crucial to restarting peace talks. Friction between Hamas and Abbas's ruling Fatah faction has increased since a court threw out voting results from parts of Gaza where Hamas dominated local elections this month. Rejecting the rulings, Hamas said it might reassess understandings with the Palestinian Authority on turning from violence to participation in Palestinian politics. Fatah, committed to a two-state solution, captured 50 of 84 municipal councils in the West Bank and Gaza in the May 5 ballot but Hamas proved itself a potent political force by winning 30. (Additional reporting by Jonathan Saul and Ori Lewis in Jerusalem and Mohammed Assadi in Ramallah)

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