Israel locks down West Bank on Hamas 'day of wrath'
Israel has locked down the West Bank for 48 hours after Hamas called for a "day of wrath" and protests against the Israel offensive in the Gaza Strip. Rival Palestinian group Fatah also called for protests.
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AFP -Â The Israeli army said it will lock down the occupied West Bank on Friday as Hamas called for a "day of wrath" against the deadly offensive on Gaza.
The West Bank will be closed off for 48 hours from midnight Thursday (2200 GMT), the army said in a statement.
The announcement came after the Islamist movement Hamas called on Palestinians to observe a "day of wrath" on Friday by staging anti-Israeli protests after the weekly Muslim prayers.
The Fatah followers of Western-backed Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas have also called for demonstrations to take place on Friday against the Israeli offensive.
Since Israel unleashed its Operation Cast Lead on December 27, at least 1,105 Palestinians have been killed, including 355 children, and at least another 5,130 wounded, according to Gaza medics.
Israel says 10 Israeli soldiers and three civilians have died as a result of combat or rocket fire in the same period.
Israel launched its offensive to halt rocket attacks from Gaza.
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