Middle East

Two killed in Gaza as Obama envoy heads for region

Article published on the 2009-01-27 Latest update 2009-01-27 14:21 TU

Relatives of Palestinian farmer Anwar al-Beram wait outside Nassir hospital in Khan Younis
(Photo: Reuters)

Israeli troops are reported to have entered Gaza after a soldier and a Palestinian were killed in breach of the cesaefire that has followed Israel's offensive on the Gaza Strip. As Egypt tries to broker a longer ceasefire, US President Barack Obama has called for negotation and dispatched his newly appointed envoy to the Middle East.

A 24-year-old Palestinian farmer, Anwar Al-Dreim, was killed by Israeli fire near Khan Yunis, after residents reported hearing tank fire and warplanes flying over the area.

And an Israeli soldier was killed and three others were wounded in the area when a bomb went off while the unit was patrolling.

Israeli troops subsequently entered Gaza in the Khan Yunis area and are reported to have opened fire. Two Palestinians are reported to have been wounded by an air attack.

US President Barack Obama's newly appointed Middle East envoy George Mitchell arrived in Egypt with orders to "engage vigorously" with all parties.

Obama earlier told Al-Arabiya television that "it's time to return to the negotiating table",  declaring that "both sides" should realise that "the path they are on is one that is not going to result in prosperity and security for their people".

Egypt is putting forward a new Israeli-Palestinian truce to begin on 5 February, according to Palestinian negotiators in Cairo, and is pushing for talks to reconcile President Mahmud Abbas's Fatah with Hamas and three smaller factions to start on 22 February.

Hamas officials said today that they will not talk to Fatah while any of their members remain in prison on the Fatah-controlled West Bank.