HAMAS REPORTS DEATH OF 25 OPERATIVES

GAZA CITY [MENL] -- Hamas has asserted that about a third of Palestiniancasualties in the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip comprisedfighters of the Islamic insurgency movement. Hamas said 25 members of the Izzedin Kassam military wing were killed inthe week-long Israeli military operation in the northern Gaza Strip. In acommunique, Hamas said one of the insurgents was the brother of themovement's spokesman, Mushir Al Masri.