Six Israeli soldiers killed by road bomb
At least six Israeli soldiers were killed today when their armoured personnel carrier drove over a bomb during clashes with Palestinian gunmen in the Gaza Strip.
The bomb exploded in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City at dawn.
Al-Arabiya TV station reported that Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad group, and Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas group, claimed responsibility for the bombing.
In the Gaza Strip, Hamas issued a claim of responsibility, saying it had filmed Israelis evacuating their dead and wounded soldiers from the scene.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on casualties.
Israeli forces entered the Zeitoun neighbourhood before dawn exchanging fire with Palestinian gunmen, killing at least three Palestinians, Israeli officials said. Soldiers took up positions on three rooftops and surrounded one house. The Israeli army said its operation was aimed at the “terrorist infrastructure.”
During the intense fighting, an Israeli armoured car and bulldozer were hit by a roadside bomb, Palestinian residents in Gaza said. The Zeitoun neighbourhood, across from the isolated Jewish settlement of Netzarim, is known as a stronghold of Islamic militant groups.
At least two Hamas militants were killed in the fighting. A third unidentified Palestinian was also killed, hospital officials in Gaza said. At least 24 Palestinians were wounded.
Israeli forces frequently enter cities and towns in the Gaza Strip to arrest or kill members of militant groups that have carried out attacks in Israel.
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