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Violence in Gaza during Hamas-led protest

Article published on the 2008-05-22 Latest update 2008-05-22 15:27 TU

One Palestinian man was killed on Thursday in a protest in the Gaza Strip only hours after another Palestinan died while attempting to carry out a suicide bombing.

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The demonstration today was called by Hamas to demand the end of the Israeli blockade of Gaza. About 2,000 people turned out, according to witnesses, with several hundred people marching as far as the Israeli border and some throwing stones at Israeli soldiers.

The Israeli military said it opened fire on men in the crowd that, it claimed, were armed. They said one man was seen carrying an anti-tank rocket launcher. As well as the death of one Palestinian, there were injuries to 17, including three teenagers.

Earlier a Palestinian died as an explosive-filled truck that he was driving blew up close to the Erez border-crossing between Israel and Gaza. The Islamic Jihad movement said the dead man was a member of its armed brigade.

The UN called upon "those reponsible in Gaza to ensure that incidents of this kind cease".

Hamas official Ismail Haniya said Palestinian groups would not declare a truce with Israel if its demands to "open borders and stop aggression" were not met.