Three Palestinian family members, including a six-year-old girl were killed as “Israel” rejects ceasefire

Source: The Age & BBC, 10-7-2006
Gaza - Three Palestinian family members, including a six-year-old girl, were killed in an air strike near Gaza City, as "Israel" rejected a call by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh for a mutual ceasefire.
The girl, her elder brother and her mother were killed in the air raid, which according to an army spokesman targeted a group of militants east of Gaza City.
Despite initial denials, the "Israeli" army later confirmed carrying out an airstrike in the neighbourhood of Sejayun.
"We are currently examining the exact details of the strike," an army source claimed.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan meanwhile demanded immediate access for UN workers and humanitarian relief supplies to the Gaza Strip, saying he was "extremely concerned about the dangerous situation in the occupied Palestinian Territory".
Four more Palestinians were killed earlier as
"Israeli" forces shifted the focus of their Gaza campaign to end militant rocket fire and free a captured soldier to the seaside strip`s eastern frontier.
As "Israel" pushed on into Gaza, officials brushed aside Haniyeh`s call for a "return to a situation of calm on the basis of a halt to all military operations by both sides".
"We do not hold negotiations with (so-called) `terrorists`. They must first return the captured soldier unharmed and cease their fire," an official in Prime Minister Ehud Olmert`s office claimed.
"We will decide on our next moves according to the steps taken by the Palestinian government," he claimed, asking not to be named.
Haniyeh stressed that his Hamas government was determined to solve the problem through diplomatic channels in a "peaceful" manner.
"It is necessary that "Israel" halt its military operation in the Gaza Strip and withdraw its forces," said a statement from Haniyeh.
"More efforts are required from all parties to resolve the current crisis in order to bring an end to the "Israeli" aggression and resolve the question of the "Israeli" soldier through serious negotiations," it added.
A Hamas spokesman slammed "Israel" for brushing aside the Hamas ceasefire offer.
"The "Israeli" rejection is wrong," said Ghazi Hamad. "This initiative must be seized on in order to find a suitable solution."
Hamas also says Cpl Shalit is alive and being well-treated.