Israeli Missiles Kill 4 Palestinians In N. Gaza

Israeli Missile Strikes Kill Four Palestinians in Northern Gaza

Palestinian medical officials say two Israeli missile strikes killed four Palestinians Sunday in the northern Gaza Strip.

An Israeli military spokesman said an aircraft fired at three men who had just launched rockets into southern Israel. Hamas security forces said the three, including a father and his son, had nothing to do with the rocket attack.

The military said another person was killed in a second strike that targeted a militant rocket squad. The Islamic Jihad militant group said one of its members was killed in that attack.

The attacks came just hours before U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was to meet Israeli officials and Palestinian leaders from Fatah, Hamas's rival faction, to discuss a planned peace conference later this year.

The United States has not yet announced a date for the U.S.-sponsored conference, to be held in Annapolis, Maryland.

Israelis and Palestinians have been working to bridge differences ahead of the conference. The Palestinians have been pressing for a detailed joint document addressing core issues, while the Israelis favor a general declaration of principles.

ENDS

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