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Israeli raids, air strikes kill dozens in Gaza Strip

Israeli forces killed 31 Palestinians, about half of them civilians, in the Gaza Strip yesterday in intense fighting that renewed threats of a broader Israeli offensive and put peace talks at risk.

A total of 66 Palestinians have been killed in four days of Israeli air strikes and raids in the tiny Hamas-controlled coastal territory straddling Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean and home to 1.5 million people.

The Jewish state said it was responding to cross-border rockets that killed an Israeli man in the border town of Sderot on Wednesday and wounded others in the major southern city of Ashkelon.

The latest deaths came after tens of thousands of Gazans protested against Israeli raids.

Demonstrators poured into the streets on Friday throughout the impoverished and isolated territory in response to Hamas calls to denounce the air strikes.

"They've killed my right to childhood," read a sign held by a child, clad in a red-stained white funeral shroud, who attended a large rally in Jabaliya.

The US urged Israel to "consider the consequences" of any action ahead of next week's visit by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

More bloodshed could derail Washington's hopes of a peace deal before US President George W. Bush steps down next January.

Of the 31 killed on Saturday, 16 were civilians and the rest militants, according to hospital staff and Hamas.

One of the dead civilians was a mother who was preparing breakfast for her children when she was hit by gunfire, relatives and medical workers said. A girl and her brother were also among the dead.

Witnesses said fighting erupted after Israeli soldiers, backed by helicopter gunships, entered northern Gaza and were confronted by Palestinian gunmen.

Palestinian officials said Israeli forces advanced towards the towns of Beit Hanoun and Jabalya, the deepest incursion in several months.

The Israeli army confirmed its forces were operating in the area and that five soldiers had been lightly wounded.

An army spokeswoman said about 20 rockets were fired into Israel yesterday. Three Israelis were lightly injured.
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