Israel launches fresh Gaza raid

GAZA: Israeli Forces have briefly re-entered the Gaza Strip and clashed with Palestinian militants, with two people killed by gunfire, medics said. The dead were reported to be a senior militant and a baby girl.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is winding up a trip to the region that hoped to revive peace talks.

Israel stepped up military raids last week to counter rocket fire from Gaza.

More than 100 Gazans were killed and Palestinians leaders suspended talks. Speaking in the West Bank on Tuesday, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas resisted US pressure to resume peace talks given events in Gaza, which is under control of the militant Hamas movement.

"I call on the Israeli government to halt its aggression so the necessary environment can be created to make negotiations succeed, for us and for them, to reach the shores of peace in 2008," Mr Abbas said.

During Wednesday's raid in Khan Younis, the baby was killed by a ricocheting bullet, and a local Islamic Jihad leader was also killed, Palestinian health ministry officials said.

BBC News