] Twelve Palestinians, including a 2-year-old boy, were
] killed Thursday when Israeli forces thrust into a Gaza
] neighborhood in a sweep for wanted militants shortly
] after the release of a Middle East peace "road map."
]
] The tank and infantry raid sent a strong signal to a
] "Quartet" of U.S.-led mediators and to the new
] Palestinian government that Israel would press ahead with
] such operations despite the new proposal to end 31 months
] of bloodshed.

] Witnesses said six of the dead were civilians, including
] the 2-year-old, a 13-year-old boy and a 17-year-old, and
] six were militants. In the West Bank, three Palestinian
] gunmen were killed in clashes with Israeli troops in two
] separate incidents.

] Ahmed Ayyad, a blacksmith, said his 2-year-old son,
] Amir, was killed by a bullet to the head as the toddler
] stood near a window facing Israeli troops.
]
] "I could not help him," Ayyad said, choking back tears at
] the local morgue. "What road map? It is nonsense ... the
] Israelis do not want peace -- you can ask my son."