Israeli soldiers killed three militants and wounded several
other Palestinians Tuesday, after tanks pushed into the Gaza Strip
overnight.
A 14-year-old boy suffered head wounds during an Israeli tank
raid and several other civilians were hurt.
Palestinian medics said three members of the Islamic Jihad
militant group were killed as they approached the border fence with
Israel near the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis.
An army spokesman said the men were carrying large bags and were
"acting in a suspicious manner."
The killings came after Israeli tanks moved into the eastern
Gaza Strip overnight with troops seizing five Palestinian militants
after clashing with fighters there, the army said.
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Witnesses said the tanks, supported by unmanned drones hovering
above, entered eastern Gaza near the Karni crossing, the main
terminal for goods entering and leaving the densely populated
strip.
At least three Palestinian fighters in eastern Gaza were wounded
when they were hit by a missile fired by one of the drones.
An army spokesman said the raid in eastern Gaza targeted five
wanted Palestinians, including two members of the Islamic militant
group Hamas, which controls the Palestinian government.
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"Forces surrounded a house in which the five wanted Palestinians
were located," the spokesman said.
"Some exchanges of fire occurred during which one of the wanted
men was injured. The five were arrested and taken for
questioning."
The spokesman added that a search of the house found a store of
weapons.
Israeli tanks and bulldozers also entered a village east of Khan
Younis Tuesday morning. At least two Palestinian civilians were
wounded in the clashes, including the 14-year-old, witnesses
said.
Overnight, Israel carried out air strikes at houses in Jabalya,
a district of Gaza City, in the northern part of the strip, and the
southern Gaza town of Rafah.
Witnesses said the strikes were apparently aimed at the homes of
members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
(China Daily August 23, 2006)
