Israeli forces kill seven in Gaza

Israeli troops killed six Hamas gunmen and a teacher in the northern Gaza Strip today in escalating violence that is hampering peace efforts.

The surge in violence began on Monday with a Hamas suicide bombing in southern Israel and stepped up with Israeli air and ground attacks on Gaza and militant rocket sites.

A 73-year-old Israeli woman was killed in the suicide bombing, and 16 Palestinians, all but one of them militants, have died in the Israeli attacks.

A Hamas rocket hit an Israeli communal village yesterday, slightly injuring two young sisters.

The 38-year-old Palestinian teacher was killed today when an Israeli missile struck an agricultural school in the northern town of Beit Hanoun, said Hamas officials.

Israel said it opened fire in the area at a group of rocket launchers and denied firing at a school.

The fighting erupted earlier in the day after Israeli tanks drove several hundred yards into northern Gaza. Hamas militants and Israel troops traded automatic fire, as Israeli aircraft fired missiles and Hamas lobbed mortar shells.

Five Hamas men were killed, three by missiles and two by gunfire, said a spokesman for Hamas’ military wing. The Islamic Jihad faction said one of its militants also died in the clash.

Seven rockets were fired at southern Israel today. One landed in the garden of a home in the town of Sderot, slightly wounding one person.

The increased fighting has threatened to overwhelm peacemaking efforts. It is unlikely that Hamas’ rival, moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, could press ahead with serious peace talks with Israel during intense conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Heavy Palestinian casualties could put pressure on Mr Abbas to halt peace talks. While hoping to reach a peace deal this year, Israel has said it will not carry out any agreement until he regains control of Gaza.