The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Gaza City

Two Palestinian militants were killed on Friday in separate gunfights with Israeli forces who carried out a brief ground incursion into southern Gaza, Israeli military sources said. One militant was killed in the northern Gaza Strip close to the security fence after a gunbattle broke out with Israeli troops. "An observation post spotted an armed man at the security fence in the north of the Gaza Strip. A unit was dispatched to this sector to neutralise him," an Israeli military spokesman said.

"An exchange of fire broke out and grenades were thrown in the direction of the soldiers. The armed Palestinian was killed and there were no casualties on the Israeli side," he added.

Several Israeli armoured vehicles and tanks crossed into the Hamas-ruled territory earlier near the Kissufim crossing where they engaged in a gunfight with militants, the medics said. One member of Hamas's armed wing was killed and two other militants were wounded by Israeli fire, the Israeli army said, adding, "during a regular operation in Gaza, a force identified militants and opened fire at them."