Middle East

Israel kills 6 militants in foray

(AP)
Updated: 2007-06-20 22:55

EREZ CROSSING, Gaza Strip _ Israel fired missiles and sent tanks on a foray into Gaza on Wednesday, killing four Palestinians in the deadliest military action since Hamas militants took control of the coastal strip.

At the same time, Israel eased restrictions on travel in and out of Gaza, letting in a few seriously ill or wounded Palestinians who had been holed up for days at a fetid border crossing.

A teenager with leukemia and four other Palestinians in need of medical care went through the tunnel at the Erez crossing in Israel, the military said. Israeli officials also authorized entry of all foreigners living in Gaza.

Israel's Supreme Court was hearing a petition by a human rights group demanding that Israel also offer immediate medical treatment to 26 critically ill Palestinians hospitalized in Gaza.

And a U.N. agency warned of general food shortages in Gaza within weeks if the main cargo crossing with Israel wasn't reopened.

Israeli aircraft fired missiles at two rocket launchers in northern Gaza, in the first aerial attack on the strip since Hamas vanquished the rival Fatah of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas late last week. The strike came in reprisal for militant rocket fire on Israel on Wednesday; no one was injured in the air attack or by the three rockets that were fired.

Israeli tanks, meanwhile, entered southern Gaza about 600 meters (yards) before dawn Wednesday, and four militants were killed in a gunbattle, Palestinian hospital officials said.