Israeli Incursion Leaves 1 Dead and 20 Palestinian Homes in Ruins

Israeli bulldozers and tanks rumbled into a Palestinian refugee camp in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, demolishing 20 houses and launching a predawn firefight that killed a teenager.

The Israeli army said troops moved in to destroy buildings at the camp in Rafah that Palestinian gunmen had used as cover to fire at soldiers and as bases for planting roadside bombs.

Troops covered what the army called the “operational engineering activities” of the bulldozers with tank and automatic fire as Palestinians fought back with grenade launchers and automatic weapons during the four-hour raid.

Doctors said Mahmoud Aqel, 17, was killed and at least 15 Palestinians were wounded in a shootout.

A boy, 13, was shot in the cheek by Israeli soldiers, Palestinian witnesses said.

Five Israeli bulldozers leveled 20 houses, three chicken farms and greenhouses, the Palestinian Authority said.

Khalil Ibrahim, 37, said he told his family to flee when he saw the bulldozers coming. His house was severely damaged. “I don’t think I can live in my house again, because sooner or later they are going to attack it,” he said.