Special report: Israel launches Gaza assault     

    RAMALLAH, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Four Palestinian ministers of the Hamas-led government and 16 Hamas lawmakers will stand trial on Sunday before an Israeli military court.

    The ministers and lawmakers were arrested last month by Israeli troops in the West Bank following the abduction of an Israeli soldier by militants from Hamas and two allied groups during a deadly attack on an Israeli army post near Gaza border on June 25.

    The prisoners' lawyer, Fares Abu Hasan, told reporters that ministers of finance, planning, prisoners affairs and social affairs as well as 16 legislators would be tried in Salem military court near the northern West Bank city of Jenin.

    On June 29 Israeli army arrested 26 Hamas lawmakers and eight ministers of the Hamas-led cabinet in the West Bank cities of Ramallah, Qalqilyah, Hebron, Jenin and East Jerusalem, while launching ground and air assault on the Gaza Strip to free the abducted soldier. Enditem