Israeli troops stopped Palestinian militants infiltrating a Jewish settlement before dawn today by shooting several gunmen spotted inside a greenhouse, an army spokeswoman said.
Israeli military sources said at least one gunman was killed inside the isolated, fortified enclave of Netzarim in the Gaza Strip. "We are still conducting searches. But the infiltration was stopped, it is over," said one source.
Israeli radio said in an unsourced report that three militants were shot dead by the army unit.
The army spokeswoman said the gunmen managed to slip into Netzarim around 5am (2am GMT) and opened fire and threw a grenade at soldiers after being intercepted in the greenhouse.
The Israeli daily Maariv's website said the militants had tried to plant explosives before being shot.
No soldiers or settlers were injured in the incident, on the last day of the week-long Jewish Passover holiday.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon plans to evacuate Netzarim and 19 other settlements in Gaza, which Israel occupied in the 1967 Middle East war, under a unilateral plan to "disengage" from conflict with the Palestinians.