VOA常速英语2008年-3 Israeli Soldiers, 4 Hamas Militants Killed in

By Jim Teeple
Jerusalem
16 April 2008

Three Israeli soldiers were killed and several others badly wounded in a clash with Hamas militants¹ in the Gaza Strip.  At least four Hamas militants were also killed in fighting in Gaza.   VOA's Jim Teeple has details from our Jerusalem bureau.

The fighting was the heaviest in weeks between Israeli forces and militants of the Islamic group Hamas, which controls  the Gaza Strip.  The Israelis were killed near the Nahal Oz fuel terminal that straddles the Israel-Gaza border, and where two Israeli civilian² workers were killed last week.

Major Avital Leibovich is a spokeswoman for the Israeli Defense³ Forces.  She says Hamas militants are intentionally⁴ attacking locations where humanitarian⁵ supplies enter Gaza from Israel.  

"Unfortunately, we suffered the loss of three soldiers in this activity early this morning," she said.  "I definitely see this is another threat another intention of targeting either our civilians⁶ or the sources of humanitarian need - namely gas, medicine and food."

Israeli troops entered Gaza near the fuel terminal to attack positions used by Palestinian militants to fire rockets at Israel. 

Abu Obeida a Hamas military commander says attacks against Israel will continue.

Obeida called  Wednesday's fighting a Hamas "ambush⁷" and warned that Israeli troops will face death, injury and kidnapping if they enter Gaza.

Clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants continued throughout the day - raising questions about whether Egyptian efforts to mediate⁸ a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants will be suspended.  Later in the day, Israel allowed the resumption of fuel deliveries through the Nahal Oz terminal.  Fuel supplies had been suspended since last week's Hamas attack on the terminal. 

Former President Jimmy Carter was scheduled to meet two senior Hamas leaders in Cairo, after ending his trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories.  Mr. Carter says he is on a private visit to the region and is not trying to negotiate between Israelis and Palestinians.  He says he will meet later this week with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Damascus - a move that has been criticized by Israeli officials.

1 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

2 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 intentionally   

ad.故意地，有意地

参考例句：

• I didn't say it intentionally. 我是无心说的。
• The local authority ruled that he had made himself intentionally homeless and was therefore not entitled to be rehoused. 当地政府裁定他是有意居无定所，因此没有资格再获得提供住房。

5 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

6 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

7 ambush   

n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击

参考例句：

• Our soldiers lay in ambush in the jungle for the enemy.我方战士埋伏在丛林中等待敌人。
• Four men led by a sergeant lay in ambush at the crossroads.由一名中士率领的四名士兵埋伏在十字路口。

8 mediate   

vi.调解，斡旋；vt.经调解解决；经斡旋促成

参考例句：

• The state must mediate the struggle for water resources.政府必须通过调解来解决对水资源的争夺。
• They may be able to mediate between parties with different interests.他们也许能在不同利益政党之间进行斡旋。