Israeli troops gun down five Palestinian militants | Florida Statesman

Israeli troops gun down five Palestinian militants

Florida Statesman Wednesday 12th March, 2008

Palestinian medical officials say Israeli troops have killed four Palestinian militants in the West Bank town of Bethlehem.

Another militant was killed in Tulkarm.

Security sources say those killed in the Bethlehem attack included a member of Islamic Jihad and a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.

Islamic Jihad leader Nafez Azzam in Gaza said, "This new crime reflects the true face of the occupation. Killing still continues while they are talking about the possibility of bringing calm, but if they think that calm means Palestinian surrender, they are mistaken."

The incidents came after the leader of the Islamic militant group Hamas laid out conditions Wednesday for a cease-fire with Israel.

Ismail Haniyeh said Israel must stop carrying out raids and assassinations in the Gaza Strip, and must re-open the territory's borders. He also said a cease-fire must be "reciprocal, simultaneous and comprehensive."

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Wednesday Israel has not entered into a truce with Hamas. He said there has been no change in Israeli efforts to stop Gaza militants from firing rockets into Israel, saying there could be an escalation of fighting.

A lull in violence in recent days has followed an Israeli military offensive in Gaza in which at least 130 Palestinians were killed.

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