Palestinian gunmen kill two in Gaza-military source

GAZA (Reuters) – Palestinian militants shot and killed two
people near the Gaza border on Sunday, a military source said,
in the latest flare-up of violence despite a truce declared in
February.

Militants from Gaza fired at an Israeli vehicle near the
Kissufim border crossing, killing two Israelis, a military
source and Israeli rescue services said. The soldiers then
returned fire and hit one of the gunmen, the army later said.

The militant groups Islamic Jihad, the Popular Resistance
Committees and al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, part of Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah group, claimed joint
responsibility for the attack.

Rescue services said four more people were injured in the
shooting. Palestinian witnesses said Israel massed forces and
vehicles near the crossing and reported hearing exchanges of
fire in the area.

The incident coincided with a visit by Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice, who met Israeli and Palestinian leaders to
urge them to coordinate more closely on Israel’s planned
pullout from the Gaza Strip next month.

Her visit came after a wave of violence, which included
Israeli airstrikes against militants and a deadly Palestinian
suicide bombing in Israel, and aimed to try to save a shaky
truce Israeli and Palestinian leaders declared in February.