Israel presses Gaza offensive, air strikes kill 2

GAZA, Nov 4 (Reuters) Israeli air strikes killed two Palestinians in Gaza today including a Hamas gunman, rescue workers said, as the army pressed on with one of its biggest operations in the strip since pulling out a year ago.

The fresh attacks came a day after Israel killed 17 people, about half of them civilians and including two women acting as human shields between troops and gunmen hiding in a mosque.

Israel's army said it only fired at armed Palestinians.

Israel says the latest operation in Gaza is aimed at stopping militants launching rockets at the Jewish state.

The violence has scuttled hopes of any resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, already a remote prospect since the Hamas militant group took power in March following elections. Hamas is sworn to destroy Israel.

One air strike on a van in Gaza City killed a Hamas militant and wounded two others, rescue workers said. Hamas said those hit were involved in making rockets.

The Israeli military said it was checking the report.

In the northern town of Beit Hanoun, the body of a 46-year-old man was found under the rubble of a house hit in an air strike, rescue workers said.

At least 10 other people were wounded in missiles strikes, Palestinian hospital officials said.

Israeli forces have killed around 30 people in the four-day assault, mainly focused on the town of Beit Hanoun.

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