Fierce Firefight Erupts Between Israelis, Palestinians in Gaza
A fierce firefight erupted early today between Israeli forces and Palestinians near Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip, wounding at least 25 Palestinians and casting doubt on U.S. efforts to convene a meeting of security commanders later in the day.
Palestinians said that Israeli helicopters rocketed a Palestinian police post next to the Khan Yunis refugee camp and that tanks fired shells at the camp.
The Israeli military said there was a “very heavy” exchange of fire but denied that helicopters were used.
The violence followed a day of rocket and mortar exchanges between the two sides that killed a Palestinian police officer and wounded 17 other men.
Witnesses said a blast, apparently a Palestinian mortar shell exploding at a Jewish settlement, set off the firefight near Khan Yunis. Palestinians said six Israeli tanks advanced toward the camp, a source of almost daily fire at the nearby Jewish settlements.
Witnesses said soldiers thrust some 200 yards into the camp using bulldozers to remove sand embankments, which the army has accused Palestinian gunmen of using to shoot at a nearby army base and Jewish settlements.
The Israelis were met by hundreds of Palestinian civilian gunmen and national security forces, who opened fire, witnesses said.
-- Times Wire Services
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