Israeli Air Strike in Gaza Kills 2 Palestinians
06 July 2006
Palestinian witnesses say at least two people were killed and several others wounded in an Israeli air strike in the southern Gaza Strip Thursday.
The Israeli army said the air strike in Khan Younis area was carried out after Palestinian militants fired several anti-tank rockets at Israeli forces.
In northern Gaza, Palestinian witnesses say gun battles broke out after Israeli tanks and helicopter gunships fired at suspected militant positions inside the town of Beit Lahiya.
Israeli tanks and troops also took over three former Jewish settlements near the town early Thursday morning - effectively creating a buffer zone aimed at preventing Palestinian militants from firing rockets at Israeli cities and towns.
Israeli officials say Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered the expansion of the Gaza offensive after two days of repeated Palestinian rocket attacks aimed at Israeli city of Ashkelon.
Israeli military units re-entered Gaza after an Israeli soldier was kidnapped by Palestinian militants nearly two weeks ago.
Israel had withdrawn its troops in Gaza and forced all Jewish settlers to leave the Palestinian territory less than a year ago, after nearly 40 years of occupation.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
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