Gaza City - Palestinian fighters reportedly driving a disguised Israeli army jeep crossed into Israel from the central Gaza Strip on Saturday and attacked an army position, the Israeli military said.
"Four to five armed men penetrated Israeli territory in the Kissufim sector and attacked a fortified army position. Exchanges of fire took place," an army spokesperson said, asking not to be named.
The attack on the Kissufim crossing was claimed by the radical Islamic Jihad, saying it was a joint four-man operation with Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed group loosely linked to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah party.
Israeli public radio and Palestinian security sources said the attackers were driving a jeep which the radio said was disguised as an Israeli army vehicle.
It was the first such infiltration since June 25, 2006 when Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was captured. He remains in the hands of Palestinian militants.
"Four martyrs of Al-Quds Brigades (armed wing of Islamic Jihad) and from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades have led a joint operation and attacked the military post of Kissufim," Jihad spokesperson Abu Ahmed told reporters.
"They fired on a jeep, killing and wounding its occupants," he said, adding that another group of fighters had fired anti-tank rockets and automatic weapons at the same post.
But the Israeli army spokesman said that no troops were hurt during the operation, dubbed "Hot Summer" by Palestinian militants.
Witnesses said that attack helicopters could be seen hovering over the conflict zone and exchanges of gunfire heard.
Abu Ahmed said that three of the militants had managed to get back into the Gaza Strip after the attack and that a fourth remained in Israel. The army said one attacker had been "put out of action."
Israeli areas around Kissufim were put on high alert, the army said.
The militants' raid happened after Israeli tanks and troops pushed into the Gaza Strip further to the south near the town of Rafah and traded gunfire with members of the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.
"The military came under fire. They retaliated, hitting an armed man," an army spokesperson said, without elaborating.
Hamas in a statement confirmed the clash but made no mention of casualties.
The army detained dozens of Palestinians aged between 15 and 50 for questioning and identity checks, witnesses said.
On Monday, the Israeli army carried out an incursion deep into Palestinian territory, also at Rafah, in a one-day operation in which they questioned dozens of Palestinians and arrested four.
The incursions come after Israel on May 16 resumed air strikes on militants in Gaza after a six-month truce, in response to a sharp increase in rocket attacks from the territory.
The Israeli raids have killed 16 civilians and 39 militants, mostly from Hamas, but have failed to bring the rocket attacks to a halt.
Source : www.iol.co.za
"Four to five armed men penetrated Israeli territory in the Kissufim sector and attacked a fortified army position. Exchanges of fire took place," an army spokesperson said, asking not to be named.
The attack on the Kissufim crossing was claimed by the radical Islamic Jihad, saying it was a joint four-man operation with Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed group loosely linked to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah party.
Israeli public radio and Palestinian security sources said the attackers were driving a jeep which the radio said was disguised as an Israeli army vehicle.
It was the first such infiltration since June 25, 2006 when Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was captured. He remains in the hands of Palestinian militants.
"Four martyrs of Al-Quds Brigades (armed wing of Islamic Jihad) and from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades have led a joint operation and attacked the military post of Kissufim," Jihad spokesperson Abu Ahmed told reporters.
"They fired on a jeep, killing and wounding its occupants," he said, adding that another group of fighters had fired anti-tank rockets and automatic weapons at the same post.
But the Israeli army spokesman said that no troops were hurt during the operation, dubbed "Hot Summer" by Palestinian militants.
Witnesses said that attack helicopters could be seen hovering over the conflict zone and exchanges of gunfire heard.
Abu Ahmed said that three of the militants had managed to get back into the Gaza Strip after the attack and that a fourth remained in Israel. The army said one attacker had been "put out of action."
Israeli areas around Kissufim were put on high alert, the army said.
The militants' raid happened after Israeli tanks and troops pushed into the Gaza Strip further to the south near the town of Rafah and traded gunfire with members of the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.
"The military came under fire. They retaliated, hitting an armed man," an army spokesperson said, without elaborating.
Hamas in a statement confirmed the clash but made no mention of casualties.
The army detained dozens of Palestinians aged between 15 and 50 for questioning and identity checks, witnesses said.
On Monday, the Israeli army carried out an incursion deep into Palestinian territory, also at Rafah, in a one-day operation in which they questioned dozens of Palestinians and arrested four.
The incursions come after Israel on May 16 resumed air strikes on militants in Gaza after a six-month truce, in response to a sharp increase in rocket attacks from the territory.
The Israeli raids have killed 16 civilians and 39 militants, mostly from Hamas, but have failed to bring the rocket attacks to a halt.
Source : www.iol.co.za
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