Israeli airstrike kills Palestinian civilian in Gaza

It was not immediately clear why the Israeli army attacked the house, which is close to a Hamas stronghold. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike.

Hospital officials reported that a Palestinian civilian was killed and eight other Palestinians, including a young girl, were seriously injured. They identified the killed Palestinian as Maher Zagoot, 38, who worked as a school teacher.

Witnesses said that the targeted house was completely demolished, adding that the strike also caused severe damage to homes and stores in the area.

The attack was the latest in the Israeli “Days of Penitence” operation which was launched 10 days ago in the northern Gaza Strip.

Palestinian death toll reaches 107

Another Palestinian who was injured in a similar air strike on October 1 in Jabaleya also died of his wounds on Sunday, medics said. They identified him as Raed al-Mabha, 22.

Earlier in the day, a Palestinian fighter was killed in an Israeli offensive in northern Gaza, hospital officials said.

On Saturday, Israeli forces shot dead a Hamas field commander, Abed Nabhan, 25, in Jebaleya. Israeli military sources claimed that Nahan was involved in the mortar attacks on the southern Israeli town of Sderot. They also confirmed that he was killed and that four other fighters were injured.

Late Saturday, two Israeli aircrafts fired missiles toward a group of Palestinians in separate incidents in Jebaleya.

The first raid, near a market, injured four Palestinians, including two fighters and two bystanders, hospital officials and witnesses said, adding that the second attack seriously injured two other fighters.

Also Saturday night, an explosion damaged a 5-story house near Jebaleya, killing two Palestinians, hospital officials said. Residents said that the blast was caused by two tank shells fired by the Israeli military while the Israeli army claimed that Palestinian fighters fired an anti-tank missile at the building.

Sunday’s deaths brought the total number of Palestinians killed in Israel’s major offensive to 107. Almost half of the dead were civilians, about 18 were age 16 and under.

Kerry vows no reprieve for Arafat

Israel’s deadliest offensive has prompted international concern but an Arab-backed UN Security Council draft resolution demanding Israel to withdraw its troops from the occupied territories was vetoed this week by the Jewish state’s key ally, the United States.

Washington, like Israel, rejects dealing with the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, claiming that he is encouraging terrorism.

Kerry opened his debate late Saturday by saying that he would not allow any reprieve for Arafat if he won next month’s election.

"We have been at this for a long time. Mr. Arafat has proven his unwillingness and incapacity to be able to act as a legitimate partner in the peace process," Kerry alleged.

Kerry also said that he would "hold those Arab countries accountable that still support terrorists, Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Aqsa Brigades, and others."

Bush’s Democratic rival also praised Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for his "courageous" plan to disengage from the Gaza Strip by next year.

President Bush has also reiterated that he refuses to deal with Arafat, saying that he doesn’t think Arafat is “the kind of person that can lead toward a Palestinian state,”

"People in Europe didn’t like that decision.” He added.