GAZA CITY, Nov 17, 2007 (AFP) - The New York-based Human Rights Watch group has called for the Hamas-run government in Gaza to set up an independent probe into shootings at a rally that killed eight people, calling the violence excessive and indiscriminate.

HRW in a statement on Friday welcomed a pledge by sacked Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniya of the Islamist Hamas movement that it had ordered a 'strong and objective' inquiry into the circumstances of Monday's clashes.

JERUSALEM, Oct 1, 2007 (AFP) - An Israeli soldier was slightly wounded in a firefight with two suspects from the Gaza Strip, north of the main Karni commercial transit point with Israel, a military spokesman announced Monday.

'A patrol spotted two suspects on the Palestinian side of the border,' the spokesman told AFP.

'The two men lobbed two hand grenades and fired shots at the soldiers, injuring one,' he added.

Israeli troops returned the fire, hitting both men, he added.

GAZA CITY, Sept 30, 2007 (AFP) - The Islamist Hamas movement ruling Gaza has arrested Fatah member Yahya Rabah, who served as Palestinian representative to Yemen, accusing him of corruption, witnesses and officials said on Sunday.

Rabah, who is also a columnist at the Al-Hayat Al-Jadida daily, was arrested overnight at his home, witnesses said.

'Yahya Rabah was summoned after numerous complaints from citizens concerning problems of money,' a spokesman for the Hamas-run interior ministry, Ihab al-Ghassin, told AFP.

GAZA CITY, Sept 30, 2007 (AFP) - Under a deal struck with Egypt, dozens of Hamas members were allowed to return to the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing early Sunday after months of being stuck at the border, a Hamas spokesman said.

Around 100 Palestinians crossed into Gaza from Egypt before dawn through the Rafah crossing, which has been closed since the Islamists seized power in the coastal strip in mid-June.

JERUSALEM, Sept 28, 2007 (AFP) - The United Nations agency in charge of Palestinian refugees on Friday called on Israel to open crossings into the Gaza Strip and warned of a humanitarian crisis if further restrictions are imposed.

'We don't believe that just having humanitarian goods coming in is enough, we need other supplies to come in. People need other things besides food and medicine,' UNRWA Commissioner General Karen Abu Zayd told reporters.

JERUSALEM, Sept 28, 2007 (AFP) - Israel is not considering an imminent invasion of the Gaza Strip but the option is still on the table, a senior Israeli security official and army radio said on Friday.

The statements came as another Palestinian militant died of wounds inflicted during one of several strikes carried out earlier this week, bringing to 13 the number of Palestinians killed in a single 24-hour period.

GAZA CITY, Sept 28, 2007 (AFP) - Another Palestinian militant died on Friday of wounds inflicted by an Israeli air strike on the Gaza Strip this week during a series of operations that killed more than a dozen people, medics said.

The death of Shadi Abu Suraya, 30, a local commander in the Army of Islam, brings to 13 the number of Palestinians killed in one of the bloodiest days in the impoverished coastal strip had seen in weeks.

JERUSALEM, Sept 28, 2007 (AFP) - A large-scale Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip aimed at ending near-daily rocket fire from the territory is 'not imminent,' a senior security official told AFP on Friday.

'The army is not considering an imminent operation, but we have not excluded such an option since we continue to see more and more rockets,' the official said on condition of anonymity.

GAZA CITY, Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - The Israeli military killed three Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, bringing to 12 the death toll in one of the bloodiest 24 hours in the Hamas-run territory in recent months.

The escalation, in which another 21 people were wounded, followed a warning by Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak that the clock was ticking down to a widescale military operation in Gaza aimed at curbing near daily rocket fire.

GAZA CITY, Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - The Israeli military killed two Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip early on Thursday, bringing to 11 the death toll in one of the bloodiest 24 hours in the Hamas-run territory in recent months.

The escalation, in which another 20 people were wounded, followed a warning by Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak that the clock was ticking down to a widescale military operation in Gaza aimed at curbing incessant rocket fire.

GAZA CITY, Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - Two Palestinian militants from the armed wing of the Hamas movement were killed in an Israeli air strike on northern Gaza early on Thursday, Palestinian security sources said.

The Israeli army confirmed it had 'targeted a rocket-launching cell in northern Gaza who were about to fire into Israel, and we identified hitting them.'

This latest Israeli raid follows one of the bloodiest days of violence in Gaza in recent months, when nine Palestinians militants were killed in two separate Israeli strikes across the Hamas-controlled territory.

GAZA CITY, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - Eight Palestinians, including five members of a militant group that claims links to Al-Al Qaeda, were killed on Wednesday in two separate Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip.

Two civilians and one militant belonging to the Popular Resistance Committees were killed by tank fire during a ground incursion on the outkirts of the northern town of Beit Hanun, medical sources said.

GAZA CITY, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - At least seven Palestinians, including four militants from a group that claims links to Al-Al Qaeda, were killed on Wednesday in two separate Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip.

Two civilians and one militant belonging to the Popular Resistance Committees were killed by tank fire during a ground incursion on the outkirts of the northern town of Beit Hanun, medical sources said.

GAZA CITY, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - At least seven Palestinians, including four militants belonging to a radical group which claims links to Al-Al Qaeda, were killed on Wednesday in two separate Israeli raids across the Gaza Strip.

Three Palestinians were killed by tank fire during an Israeli army ground incursion on the outkirts of the town of Beit Hanun in northern Gaza, medical sources said.

GAZA CITY, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - Three Palestinians were killed on Wednesday during an Israeli army ground incursion on the outkirts of the town of Beit Hanun in northern Gaza, medical sources said.

Nine other people were wounded in the ground raid which came shortly after four Palestinian militants belonging to a radical group which claims links to Al-Al Qaeda were killed in an Israeli air raid on the heart of Gaza City.

GAZA CITY, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - At least three Palestinian militants were killed in an Israeli air raid targeting a vehicle in Gaza City on Wednesday.

The militants were driving through the Zaitun neighbourhood when their car was targeted by an Israeli missile, witnesses and security sources said.

According to some witnesses, the militants belonged to the armed wing of the Hamas movement which controls the Gaza Strip.

Other sources said they belonged to the radical Army of Islam group which claims to be linked to Al-Al Qaeda.

GAZA CITY, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - Israel is getting nearer to launching a major operation in the Gaza Strip in response to continuing rocket fire from the Hamas-run territory, Defence Minister Ehud Barak said on Wednesday.

'We are nearing an extensive operation in Gaza in response to rocket firing. We have to weaken the Hamas regime and its grip on Gaza,' the former premier told army radio.

'This operation will not be simple, both because of the forces that will have to be involved and the time limit that will be imposed on them,' he said.

JERUSALEM, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - The impoverished Gaza Strip risks being economically paralysed if other Israeli banks follow the example of Bank Hapoalim and sever ties with the territory, officials said on Wednesday.

'Such a decision would pose an enormous problem for us as we will no longer be able to transfer funds to Gaza,' Palestinian minister for prisoners, sports and youth, Ashraf al-Ajrami, told AFP.

GAZA CITY, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - A Palestinian child was wounded early on Wednesday in an Israeli air strike in the north of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, witnesses said.

The child, thought to be around 12 years old, was wounded when Israeli warplanes fired a missile against a rocket launcher in the area, the witnesses said.

A spokesman for the Islamic Jihad group, which fires most of the rockets from Gaza into Israel, said that several of its members managed to escape the strike.

JERUSALEM, Sept 25, 2007 (AFP) - Israel's largest private bank on Tuesday announced it was severing all ties with banks in the Gaza Strip following a government decision to declare the Hamas-ruled territory a 'hostile entity.'

'In light of the government's decision to declare the Gaza Strip a hostile entity, Bank Hapoalim decided to stop its financial activities with banks and branches based in Gaza,' the bank said.

EL-ARISH, Egypt, Sept 25, 2007 (AFP) - A group of Palestinians trapped in an Egyptian airport since the border with Gaza was closed in mid-June tried to break out on Monday, smashing furniture and clashing with security forces.

A security source told AFP that 28 Palestinians belonging to various factions, including Hamas which violently took over the Gaza Strip on June 15, tried to smash their way out of El-Arish airport in northern Egypt.

No one was hurt in the ensuing clashes, the source said.

GAZA CITY, Sept 22, 2007 (AFP) - Four children were wounded in the northern town of Beit Lahiya in the Gaza Strip while playing with an object that turned out to be an explosive device, Palestinian medical officials said on Saturday.

'The children were playing with a suspicious object that we think was left behind by the occupation when it exploded, wounding them with shrapnel,' one official said of Friday's incident.

GAZA CITY, Sept 21, 2007 (AFP) - Medics said on Friday that the number of Palestinians killed during an Israeli operation in a Gaza Strip refugee camp rose to four after a Hamas fighter was shot dead during the incursion.

Imad Abu Hjeir, 35, was killed in a gunfight with Israeli soldiers in Bureij late Thursday before the operation ended, medics said.

Three other Palestinians were killed earlier the same day, including a 16-year-old boy run over by a bulldozer.

GENEVA, Sept 21, 2007 (AFP) - The UN's human rights chief has expressed her 'grave concern' at Israel's decision to declare the Gaza Strip a 'hostile territory,' and its threats to cut off fuel and electricity supplies.

In a statement issued late on Thursday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour warned that 'the implementation of such measures would impose an unbearable burden on the civilian population of Gaza.'

GAZA CITY, Sept 21, 2007 (AFP) - Three Palestinians were killed Thursday during an incursion by Israeli forces into the Gaza Strip, including a 16-year-old boy run over by a bulldozer, witnesses and medics said.

Mahmud Kayed's body was ripped to shreds after the military bulldozer bore down on Palestinian youths throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers near the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza.

GAZA CITY, Sept 20, 2007 (AFP) - Three Palestinians were killed on Thursday, including a 16-year-old boy run over by an Israeli army bulldozer as troops raided a Gaza Strip refugee camp, medics and witnesses said.

Mahmud Kayed was run over and his body torn to pieces after the vehicle lurched towards a group of youths throwing rocks during the Israeli operation in the Al-Bureij camp, the sources said.

'During the early morning hours, there were exchanges of fire between the forces and gunmen and one gunman was hit,' an Israeli army spokeswoman said.

GAZA CITY, Sept 20, 2007 (AFP) - Gazans braced for the worst on Thursday after Israel branded the territory a 'hostile entity' in a move that paved the way for cuts to basic supplies and drew widespread international criticism.

'I've started stocking fuel to be able to work if Israel interrupts supplies,' said Nidal Eslim, a 33-year-old father of seven who runs a taxi service that provides his sole source of income. 'You have to live somehow.'

GAZA CITY, Sept 20, 2007 (AFP) - A 16-year-old Palestinian boy was killed on Thursday after being run over by an Israeli army bulldozer while troops were operating in the Gaza Strip, medics and witnesses said.

Mahmud Kayed was run over and his body torn to pieces after the vehicle lurched towards a group of youths throwing rocks during the Israeli operation in the Al-Bureij refugee camp, they said.

'During the early morning hours there were exchanges of fire between the forces and gunmen and one gunman was hit,' an Israeli army spokeswoman said.

GAZA CITY, Sept 20, 2007 (AFP) - Gazans stocked up on food and fuel on Thursday as Israel faced a barrage of criticism over its decision to brand Hamas-run Gaza a 'hostile entity' and possibly cut its basic supplies.

'I've started stocking fuel to be able to work if Israel interrupts supplies,' said Nidal Eslim, a 33-year-old taxi driver and father of seven, for whom his taxi is the sole source of income.

'I will try to stock up 500 litres, which will last me for a couple of days. You have to live somehow.'

LONDON, Sept 20, 2007 (AFP) - Britain voiced concern Thursday over Israel's declaration of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip as a 'hostile entity' and the prospect of supplies being cut to the impoverished territory.

'The British government is concerned about reports that Israel is considering diminishing its services to Gaza. It is monitoring developments,' a Foreign Office spokesman told AFP.

'It is concerned about reports that Israel considers Gaza a hostile entity,' he added.

BRUSSELS, Sept 20, 2007 (AFP) - The European Union joined Thursday a rising chorus of opposition to Israel's move to declare the Hamas-run Gaza Strip a 'hostile entity', urging the Jewish state to reverse the decision.

'We are making the same appeal as the UN Secretary General for Israel to reverse this decision,' said the spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

JERUSALEM, Sept 20, 2007 (AFP) - Israel on Thursday defended its decision to declare Hamas-run Gaza a 'hostile entity,' paving the way for basic supplies to be cut, despite the move being branded as illegal collective punishment.

'You can either carry out an extensive military operation, or take other steps,' Amos Gilad, the defence ministry's political chief told army radio.

GAZA CITY, Sept 20, 2007 (AFP) - Politics usually comes to the doctors at Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital on bloody stretchers -- bodies torn apart by Israeli airstrikes or shot down in the streets by rival clans or factions.

But ever since the Islamist Hamas movement seized control of the territory by routing their secular Fatah party rivals in mid-June in a week of bloody street clashes, Gaza's doctors have been drawn into the factional divide.

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 19, 2007 (AFP) - UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged Israel to reconsider its decision to declare the Gaza Strip 'an enemy entity,' saying the move was contrary to the Jewish state's obligations towards civilians under international law.

'I call for Israel to reconsider this decision,' the secretary general said in a statement. 'Such a step would be contrary to Israel's obligations towards the civilian population (of Gaza) under international humanitarian and human rights law.'

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Sept 19, 2007 (AFP) - Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Wednesday blasted Israel's decision to declare the Gaza Strip as hostile and said it would increase the suffering of its 1.5 million residents.

'This arbitrary decision will contribute to reinforcing the asphyxiating blockade that's hitting 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and aggravate their suffering,' said a spokesman for the Palestinian presidency.

JERUSALEM, Sept 19, 2007 (AFP) - Israel branded Gaza a 'hostile entity' on Wednesday, clearing the way for shutting off basic supplies to the Hamas-run territory in response to rockets.

Western-backed Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas blasted the 'arbitrary' decision that would increase the suffering of Gaza's 1.5 million residents, while the Western-shunned Hamas said it was 'collective punishment.'

JERUSALEM, Sept 19, 2007 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Wednesday that the Hamas movement ruling the Gaza Strip was a 'hostile entity' for the United States, after Israel made a similar declaration.

'Hamas is indeed a hostile entity. It is a hostile entity to the US as well,' Rice said at a press conference with Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni.

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Sept 18, 2007 (AFP) - The Palestinian economy remains crippled seven years after the outbreak of the intifada and needs 1.62 billion dollars in annual foreign aid to close the deficit, the World Bank said in a report obtained by AFP on Tuesday.

'Per capita GDP (gross domestic product) in the Palestinian territories now stands at 1,129 dollars (814 euros), about a third less than its level in 1999,' according to the report to be presented to an international donor organisation at a meeting later this month in New York.