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GAZA-Israeli forces killed 17 Palestinians, most of them civilians including a Reuters cameraman, in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on Wednesday, medical officials and witnesses said.The attacks came after three Israeli troops died in a Hamas ambush near a border fuel pipeline.But despite the bloodiest day's toll in more than a month, Israel allowed European-funded fuel into Gaza to keep its only power plant operational."The fuel has started to go through," said the European Union official, referring to the Nahal Oz terminal, close to the scene of clashes in which the three soldiers died.Seventeen Palestinians, at least 11 of them civilians, were killed in Israeli assaults, Hamas and medical officials said.The dead included Fadel Shana, 23, a Reuters cameraman who was felled while trying to film in central Gaza. Footage from Shana's camera showed an Israeli tank firing a shell in his direction from several hundred meters (yards) away.An Israeli military source did not immediately address the cause of Shana's killing, telling Reuters only that the area saw "ongoing fighting" and was therefore dangerous for journalists.At least three youths, a 67-year-old man, and four Hamas gunmen were also among the Palestinian dead. Signaling escalation, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said his group's armed wing were authorized to "strike the Zionist enemy everywhere".The Western-backed administration of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who lost Gaza to Hamas last June, censured the Israeli attacks but made clear peace talks would stay on track.To read more go to:
As in the days of Noah..
