IDF kills 4 gunmen in Gaza
Israeli soldiers attack Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants after latter fire mortars and anti-tank missiles at IDF force. At least 25 Gazan militants have died in combat with the IDF since the beginning of the month
Three Hamas members were killed Thursday afternoon and four others were injured in an IDF assault on a group of militants in Farahin area next to Khan Younis in central Gaza. According to reports, those killed were members of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.
The IDF reports that the armed group fired an anti-tank missile at a force of Israeli soldiers, who returned fire.
Palestinian sources told Ynet that around 1pm an IDF detachment began sweeping the Khan Younis area. The IDF force then encountered militants who began firing artillery, anti-tank missiles and anti-aircraft fire.
Later on Thursday Palestinian sources reported that a militant from the Islamic Jihad organization was killed and another severely injured in an IDF assault on the al-Bureij refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.
Additionally, the Al-Quds Brigades, Islamic Jihad's military wing, announced that they detonated an explosive device next to the soldiers. Palestinian sources report that the exchanges of fire continue even now.
Since the beginning of the month, the IDF has killed more than 25 armed Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Earlier this week, two Hamas activists were killed in an Air Force attack on a car carrying militants in the al-Bureij refugee camp.
Last week al-Quds Brigade Commander in Gaza Majed al-Harazin was also killed in an IAF strike. The Israeli defense establishment ascribed direct responsibility for all Islamic Jihad attacks from the Gaza Strip to al-Harazin, including attempts to smuggle suicide bombers into Israel and rocket attacks.
At the end of last week, three other Palestinians were killed by the IDF next to the Zeitun neighborhood of Gaza City. The IDF reported that it had fired on a Qassam launching cell and confirmed the hit. Palestinians sources identified one of the injured as Khalil Masara'I, a known weapons dealer in Gaza.
Hanan Greenberg contributed to this report
