August 22, 2002	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Saani 12,1423

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GAZA CITY, Aug 21: Israeli forces blasted their way into a Gaza town on Wednesday, killing a Palestinian civilian and wounding four more in an operation to root out militants, as fresh violence threatened to cripple the latest efforts to restore calm.

Despite the Israeli raid, which followed the killing of a soldier guarding a Jewish settlement, security officials met to discuss an Israeli withdrawal from Al Khalil, the next step in a phased pullback plan designed to defuse the 23-month crisis.

Israel tanks and infantry stormed into the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis in the small hours of the day, sending residents of the bullet-scarred refugee camp scattering. The troops ordered the evacuation of two high buildings overlooking the neighbouring Jewish settlement of Gush Katif.

Twenty tanks and armoured vehicles, backed by attack helicopters, opened fire on the camp, after which army sappers moved in and dynamited the buildings.

The blast also destroyed 15 small refugee houses in the immediate vicinity and damaged another 22, Palestinian security officials said.

One man was crushed to death when the blast and falling debris obliterated his house, Palestinian officials said.—AFP