Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

Israel allows Palestinians to flee Gaza fighting

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-02 16:50

EREZ CROSSING, Israel -- Israeli officials say they are allowing dozens of Palestinian holders of foreign passports to flee the fighting in the Gaza Strip.

Smoke billows following an Israeli air strike in the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from the Israeli-Gaza border. Israel continued to bomb Gaza early on Friday after killing a top Hamas commander in the biggest blow yet to the Islamist's leadership, as the death toll in the now seven-day blitz reached at least 420. Israeli officials say they are allowing dozens of Palestinian holders of foreign passports to flee the fighting in the Gaza Strip. [Agencies]

Related readings:  Israeli planes strike government buildings in Gaza  UN Security Council debates Gaza violence  Israel sends more troops to Gaza border  Israel rejects truce call, attacks Gaza

Army spokesman Peter Lerner says nearly 300 Palestinians are pouring through the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing Friday morning.

He says the Palestinians hold citizenship from a number of other countries, including the US, Russia, Turkey and Kazakhstan.

For nearly a week, Israel has been bombing targets linked to the ruling Hamas militant group in Gaza. More than 400 Palestinians have been killed, and dozens of buildings have been damaged or destroyed.