11 Palestinians killied in Gaza

Eleven Palestinians, including five civilians, died late yesterday and early today in escalating Israeli-Palestinian fighting that renewed threats of an Israeli invasion of Gaza.

A baby and two teenagers were among the dead.

In all, 20 Palestinian civilians – the youngest a six-month-old boy – and 24 militants have been killed since clashes between Israel and extremists affiliated with Gaza’s ruling Hamas movement escalated on Wednesday.

An Israeli man was killed by rocket fire that grew more ominous early this week when it hit a town closer to Israel’s heartland.

Hamas said the baby, Malak Karfaneh, died just before midnight in an Israeli strike on Beit Hanoun, a northern town where Palestinian militants often launch rockets at nearby Israel.

But local residents said one of those rockets fell short and landed in the area of the baby’s house.

Fierce fighting erupted today east of the town of Jebaliya. Among those killed were five militants, but also four civilians, including a 17-year-old girl and her 16-year-old brother and a 45-year-old man and his 20-year-old son.

In addition, a Hamas militant died of wounds sustained a day earlier.

The Israeli military reported that three missiles landed in the city of Ashkelon, 11 miles north of Gaza, slightly wounding two children and a woman.

Fifteen rockets and a mortar round also landed closer to the Gaza-Israel border, causing no injuries.