Five Hamas militants were killed in a pre-dawn Israeli operation in the central Gaza Strip today, Hamas and Palestinian medical officials said.
The Israeli army confirmed that troops were operating in the area near Gaza City and that they had fired, together with Israeli aircraft, at gunmen who approached the soldiers.
The troops were operating "against the terror infrastructure" in the area, the army spokesman said.
The army force was located about 400 yards inside the Gaza Strip, Palestinian witnesses said.
READ MORE
The Israeli army conducts almost nightly raids into the Gaza Strip against Palestinian militants who launch rockets into southern Israel. Dozens of militants have been killed in such operations recently.
AP