Israeli troops pressing ahead with a Gaza border town offensive killed seven Hamas militants and a girl Saturday as negotiators reported progress on forming a new Palestinian government that would be acceptable to the West and thaw a freeze on international aid. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appealed for U.N. Security Council intervention to stop the Israeli military operation against rockets being fired from the town of Beit Hanoun, where violence since Wednesday has led to the deaths of more than 40 Palestinians. Full Story