Middle East

Children killed in Gaza, as Palestinians gather for talks in Egypt

Article published on the 2008-04-28 Latest update 2008-04-28 20:41 TU

Four children aged one- to five-years-old and their mother were killed when a shell launched by an Israeli tank hit their home as Israeli troops clashed with Islamic Jihad fighters near the house, which is close to the border between Gaza and Israel. The group said one of its fighters was killed in the same area.

The clashes come as members of various Palestinian groups are gathering in Egypt to work on drafting a common position on a truce with Israel.

Members of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) and the Popular Struggle Front (PSF) are already there. Islamic Jihad, which is responsible for many of the rockets fired at Israel from Gaza said it planned to send a delegation this evening.

Egypt has served as a go-between in truce negotiations with Israel. Each faction is to meet separately with Omar Suleiman, the Egyptian intelligence chief, and then they will gather together.

Hamas officials met in Cairo last week to discuss a truce offer with Omar Suleiman, and the group said it was ready to accept a phased ceasefire that would start in Gaza and extend to the West Bank after six months. Hamas said the Gaza strike today undermines the talks in Egypt.