Israeli strikes kill four Palestinians in Gaza

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Source: CCTV.com | 06-17-2008 08:58

Israeli forces have carried out fierce military operations against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip killing four people and wounding several others.

The escalation of violence between the Israelis and Palestinians comes as Egypt is about to finish its mediation on reaching a truce between Israel and the Hamas group.

Palestinians carry the body of Hamas militant Ahmed  Al-Safadi during his funeral in Gaza City June 10, 2008. REUTERS/Ismail Zaydah (GAZA)

Israeli forces killed three militants and injured three others in the Gaza Strip on Monday.

The militants were killed as they were planting explosives along the Gaza-Israel border.

Israeli forces later killed one Palestinian in an attack on a rocket squad in the area.

In a separate incident, an Israeli airstrike injured three Hamas militants.

Israel's military carries out deadly strikes and incursions against the militants frequently while Palestinians fire rockets and mortars into Israel and attack troops along the border.

Also on Monday, Hamas fired two rockets at the southern city of Ashkelon, seriously wounding an Israeli.

Hamas leaders say the group is close to reaching a truce  deal with Israel.

Despite the continuing violence, Hamas leaders say the group is close to reaching a truce deal with Israel.

A Hamas delegation will return to Cairo within 48 hours to put forward its final response on a truce with Israel proposed by Egyptian mediators.

Editor:Du Xiaodan