Israeli village near the Gaza border lies in ruin, filled with the bodies of residents and militants

By SAM McNEIL
Associated Press

KFAR AZZA, Israel (AP) — An Israeli village that was attacked by militants lies in ruin, not far from the border with Gaza. On the streets of Kfar Azza, the bodies of militants lie scattered between the shells of burned-out cars. Walls and doors of what used to be neatly kept stucco homes are blasted wide open. As bags holding the bodies of slain residents await identification, the smell of death hangs thick in the hot afternoon air. The Israeli military led a group of journalists, including an Associated Press reporter, on a tour of the village Tuesday, a day after retaking it from what they said was a group of about 70 Hamas fighters.