Report: IDF kills 6 Palestinians in Gaza clashes

Six Palestinians were killed by IDF forces Thursday and 15 were injured in the course of Operation "Rain Man" in the Khan Younis area in Gaza.

The Palestinians reported that five of the people killed were members of the same family, four of them operatives of the Islamic Jihad's military wing the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. The fifth casualty was a 13-year-old teen.

The sixth casualty was critically injured during the clashes and died of his wounds in the hospital Thursday noon.  

Palestinian sources said at least 15 people were injured, including four who sustained serious wounds.

Eyewitnesses said large army forces backed by helicopters operated in several neighborhoods of Khan Younis.

Destruction in Gaza (Photo: AFP)

Gunmen opened fire at advancing troops and fired antitank missiles at IDF armored vehicles and tanks. Two gunmen suffering from head injuries were taken to a local hospital where they died shortly thereafter. Palestinian sources said Israeli army snipers were responsible for the fatal injuries.

The Israeli army confirmed its forces were operating in the area, saying they were looking for facilities used by terrorists. Troops fired on gunmen who tried to attack them, an army spokesman said.

"This is an area believed to conceal tunnels and other forms of infrastructure used by terrorist groups," he said.

The army said the operation was aimed at destroying a weapons storage facility in the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza.

The army warned residents who have weapons hidden in their homes to evacuate.

Also Thursday, IDF forces shot and injured a Palestinian gunman in Nablus during searches conducted in town.

Earlier, Palestinian sources in Nablus reported that an army force has entered the town. The military said that the troops were there to secure worshippers at the place.

Security forces on Tuesday night killed a terrorist who tried to infiltrate Israel from the northern Gaza Strip with an explosive belt. The terrorist was shot shortly after crossing the border fence south of the Karni Crossing, and his body was later transferred back to the Gaza Strip.

The IDF severed ties with the Palestinian Authority's security forces when Hamas rose to power in January and the army has had to enter Gaza to thwart terror attacks.

Reuters contributed to the report