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IDF bombs smuggling tunnels in Gaza after 2 Qassams hit Negev
By Haaretz Service and The Associated Press
Tags: Hamas, Israel news, Qassam 

IAF jets bombed the Philadelphi route, an area of smuggling tunnels near Gaza's border with Egypt, for a second time on Monday in response to Qassam rocket fire that hit the Negev earlier in the day.

Israel's military said the strikes targeted tunnels used to smuggle weapons in from Egypt and was retaliation for the rocket attacks.

Palestinian rockets hit Israel Monday morning, as talks dragged on over a long-term truce that would bring quiet to Israel's south and the coastal territory.
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Two rockets fired from Gaza hit southern Israel Monday, one exploding in an open area in the Sha'ar Hanegev region and the other hitting inside a kibbutz in the Sdot Negev region. No injuries were reported in either incident, but some property sustained damage.

Gaza rockets are a near-daily occurrence in southern Israel, even after the devastating three-week Israeli offensive in Gaza that was meant to bring a halt to the fire.

Israel ended its military offensive in Gaza on Jan. 18, and the territory's Islamic Hamas rulers declared a cease-fire the same day. But sporadic violence has continued as Egypt tries to mediate a long-term truce.

Despite announcements from Hamas late last week that a truce deal was imminent, no agreement has been reached. Hamas is demanding that Israel open Gaza's blockaded border crossings, but Israel says it will open the crossings only after Hamas releases Gilad Shalit, an Israeli tank crewman held by the group in Gaza since June, 2006.

Hamas wants Israel to release hundreds of prisoners in return for Shalit, including high-ranking militants and the masterminds of deadly suicide bombings.

Israel's top leadership is scheduled to meet this week to formulate a response to Hamas' demands.

Gaza man killed in accidental scrap metal recycling blast

Palestinian hospital officials said Monday that a 25-year-old Gaza man has been killed and five people have been wounded in a blast along the border with Israel.

Palestinian security officials said the explosion in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya was caused when people who were melting down scrap metal for recycling inadvertently threw an explosive device into the fire.

Residents initially reported Monday that a shell exploded.

In other news, two rockets fired from Gaza in violation of an informal truce landed in Israel. No injuries were reported.

Israel ended a three-week military offensive in Gaza on Jan. 18, and the territory's Islamic Hamas rulers declared a cease-fire the same day. But sporadic violence has continued as Egypt tries to mediate a long-term truce.

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      1.   what you don`t hear on CNN 08:26  |  Alex 16/02/09
      2.   How to Sign Agreement With Rockets Falling??? 08:34  |  Baruch Gold 16/02/09
      3.   pound gaza again 08:46  |  vik 16/02/09
      4.   The rockets on Israeli territory cannot be tolerated. 11:03  |  Jean Van Daem 16/02/09
      5.   Make peace -- no rockets... this is the proper order 12:24  |  Natallie Durson 16/02/09
      6.   above 13:12  |  moishe 16/02/09
      7.   DURSON 14:21  |  mike 16/02/09
      8.   Actually Durson yo are incorrect 15:41  |  Petero 16/02/09
      9.   To Petero (# 8) 17:33  |  flyingdoc57 16/02/09
      10.   Time and Gd`s Plan 17:35  |  Robert 16/02/09
      11.   i agree with Durson. every time the Pali`s fire a rocket into 18:02  |  james 16/02/09
      12.   Israeli Agents.. 18:19  |  hmmn 16/02/09
      13.   Natallie Durson 18:26  |  vik 16/02/09
      14.   Natalie durson 18:55  |  Daniela 16/02/09
      15.   IDF should be renamed `Infrastructure Dep`t` 19:12  |  Joseph.E 16/02/09
      16.   Dont the Jew-haters have anything better to do.. 19:41  |  Texas 16/02/09
      17.   Texas ! We don´t hate Jews ! 20:45  |  Amir 16/02/09
      18.   Do it daily, IAF. 21:09  |  Fortuna Benmayor 16/02/09
      19.   #13 vik answer is illegal settlements et al crimes 01:41  |  Labhras 17/02/09
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