Israel Gaza raid marks Palestinian anniversary

ISRAELI troops raided a town in northern Gaza early yesterday, as Palestinians marked “Naqba Day,” the anniversary of their displacement during the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, with marches and a three-minute siren.

Four Palestinians two gunmen and two boys, ages 12 and 15 were killed in the military strike.

The operation, one of the largest in recent months, came two days before the first Israeli-Palestinian summit since 2000, and a week ahead of talks between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and President Bush on a new peace plan.