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. Tuesday, 12 March, 2002


17 Palestinians Killed In Israeli Incursion in Gaza Strip

VOA News
12 Mar 2002
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Palestinian officials say at least 17 Palestinians have been killed in fierce clashes with Israeli troops raiding a Gaza Strip refugee camp. 

Palestinians say at least 50 Palestinians were wounded when Israeli forces, backed by tanks, moved into the Jabaliya camp late Monday. The Israeli army says the raid is aimed at terrorist targets. 

In a separate strike, Israeli forces targeted Palestinian navy offices in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, killing one Palestinian. And in the West Bank, Palestinians say Israel launched a simultaneous raid on Ramallah, but no casualties were reported there. 

The new incursions came after Israeli forces rounded up more than one-thousand Palestinians for questioning during large-scale raids earlier Monday in Gaza and the West Bank. Five Palestinians were killed during those raids. 

Meanwhile, Israel says Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has met conditions to move freely within within Palestinian Authority territory in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. 

But it is still unclear if Mr. Arafat will be allowed to attend this month's Arab summit in Beirut. Saudi Arabia has said it would not formally introduce its Mideast peace plan unless Mr. Arafat does attend. 

At least 50,000 right-wing Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv to protest Israel's decision to partially lift its restrictions on movement by Mr. Arafat. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

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