Gaza - Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian gunman who attacked a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, the militant Islamic Jihad group said, claiming responsibility for the assault.
The attack on the settlement of Kfar Darom coincided with a visit to Israel and the West Bank by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who earlier told reporters Palestinians must keep to a truce ahead of a planned Israeli pullout from Gaza.
Islamic Jihad said one of its gunmen, along with a fighter from al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, fired at Kfar Darom in retaliation for recent Israeli raids against militants in the West Bank.
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Israeli fire killed the Islamic Jihad gunman, the group said, basing its information on an account given by the surviving attacker. The Israeli army did not immediately confirm the death but said gunmen had fired at a Kfar Darom watchtower.
Israel and the Palestinian Authority declared a ceasefire Israel and the Palestinian Authority declared a ceasefire in February and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas later coaxed militant groups to agree to a "period of calm" until the end of the year.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon insists calm is essential for carrying out a withdrawal of 9 000 settlers from all 21 settlements in Gaza and four of 120 in the West Bank under a plan he has billed as "disengagement" from conflict with the Palestinians.
But Israeli officials are concerned that militants will resume attacks to give the impression they are chasing settlers and soldiers out. Israel wants Palestinian security forces to keep militants in check.
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