By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday expressed “deep regret” over Monday’s civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip while accusing Hamas of exposing Palestinian civilians to danger.
“I would like to express my deep regret on behalf of the Israeli government and the State of Israel over the tragic incident in which a mother and her four children were killed in Beit Hanoun, ” local daily Yedioth Ahronoth quoted Olmert as saying at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.
“We are also sorry for our own children, who have been getting hurt for many years now,” he added.
Meanwhile, Olmert joined Defense Minister Ehud Barak and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in slashing the Hamas movement which has been controlling the coast strip since June, saying “we regret the fact that Hamas is operating from within populated area, exposing them to outcomes we do not intend to reach.”
The IDF said Monday night that investigations found the mother and her four children were killed in an explosion caused by explosives carried by two gunmen who were hit by the IDF from the air.
A total of seven Palestinians were killed and some 20 others injured in the IDF shelling on the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun on Monday morning, and at least one IDF soldier was injured in the operation.
The deaths cast more shadow on Egypt’s mediation efforts to forge a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestinian militant groups. Israeli officials have said the Jewish state would consider the truce deal if Hamas could restrain Islamic Jihad and other smaller militant groups from attacking Israel.