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Palestinian gunmen kill two in Gaza-military source

Posted on: Saturday, 23 July 2005, 17:41 CDT

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.

Source: REUTERS

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