Gaza Strip - Israeli troops backed by tanks and bulldozers crossed
into southern Gaza to strike at Palestinian militants on Thursday,
killing 10, a day after Israeli leaders ruled out a large-scale
offensive to stop daily rocket salvos from Gaza. The
battle began in the morning and continued for several hours near the
southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.
Israel said their troops were attacked, fought
bravely, and killed ten gunmen. Palestinians
say Israels shot tank shells into market places, Dr. Moaiya
Hassanain of the Palestinian Health Ministry reported shrapnel wounds
consistent with shell fire.
Later in the day, Palestinian militants said fighters in a tractor
crashed through the fence on the Gaza-Israel border and attacked an
Israeli army post. Israeli aircraft struck two cars in the area, the
army said, apparently the ones that tried to attack the base. Six
militants were killed in that encounter, both sides said.
