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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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Israel Lets Foreigners Flee Gaza

Evacuation of spouses raises fears of imminent ground assault

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(Newser) – Israel has reopened a border crossing to let foreign passport holders flee Gaza, the New York Times reports. Hundreds of men holding only Palestinian travel documents have been forced to remain behind as their wives and children are evacuated. The move raises fears that a wider Israeli assault on the territory, possibly including a ground invasion, is imminent.

Israel air strikes on Gaza continued today as troops massed at staging points along the border. The Palestinian death toll from the 7-day offensive has reached an estimated 422. Hamas is continuing to fire rockets into southern Israel in response. The entire country is on a state of high alert after Hamas declared today a "day of wrath" to avenge the killing of one of its top leaders yesterday.

Palestinians carry the body of one of the children of Hamas leader Nizar Rayan, who was killed Thursday with 4 of his wives and 10 of his children in northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.
Palestinians carry the body of one of the children of Hamas leader Nizar Rayan, who was killed Thursday with 4 of his wives and 10 of his children in northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.   (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Palestinians stand at the site where an Israeli missile strike destroyed a building in Gaza City, Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.
Palestinians stand at the site where an Israeli missile strike destroyed a building in Gaza City, Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.   (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
Flames rise from the rubble of senior Hamas militant Nizal Rayan's house after an Israeli airstrike hit a nearby mosque in Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.
Flames rise from the rubble of senior Hamas militant Nizal Rayan's house after an Israeli airstrike hit a nearby mosque in Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.   (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
Palestinians carry the body of Ismail Hamdan, 11, during his funeral in Beit Hanoun northern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
Palestinians carry the body of Ismail Hamdan, 11, during his funeral in Beit Hanoun northern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
A Palestinian medic carries a wounded girl to the treatment room of Shifa hospital following an Israeli missile strike in Gaza City, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
A Palestinian medic carries a wounded girl to the treatment room of Shifa hospital following an Israeli missile strike in Gaza City, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Ashraf Amra)
An explosion is seen as missiles fired from an Israeli aircraft fly towards a target in the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
An explosion is seen as missiles fired from an Israeli aircraft fly towards a target in the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gil Nechushtan)
Isreali soldiers are seen at a staging area near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
Isreali soldiers are seen at a staging area near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
An Israeli soldier walks in front of tanks and armored vehicles in a staging area near Israel's border with Gaza, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
An Israeli soldier walks in front of tanks and armored vehicles in a staging area near Israel's border with Gaza, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
An Israeli security guard walks in front of a boy dragging a suitcase as Palestinian holders of foreign passports arrive on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing, Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.
An Israeli security guard walks in front of a boy dragging a suitcase as Palestinian holders of foreign passports arrive on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing, Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.   (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Isil Zakout from Turkey reacts as she and Palestinian holders of foreign passports arrive on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing, after leaving the Gaza Strip Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.
Isil Zakout from Turkey reacts as she and Palestinian holders of foreign passports arrive on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing, after leaving the Gaza Strip Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.   (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
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CNNreports on the misery caused by bombs and missiles along the Gaza-Israel border   (CNN Video)

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I want to come back when the situation allows it. I have nothing in Ukraine. My children are very afraid for their father. We fear there will be an Israeli ground offensive. - Alla Semaks, a Ukrainian woman married to a Palestinian

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