Israeli Troops Raid Gaza Strip
GAZA CITY — Israeli troops in combat vehicles rolled into the southern Gaza Strip early today, Palestinian security sources and witnesses said, sparking a gun battle as residents took up arms against the advancing forces.
As many as 50 tanks and armored personnel carriers entered Rafah and its refugee camp near the border with Egypt. Israeli troops conducted house-to-house searches.
Helicopters flew overhead, and at least one fired what security sources said was a missile. A hospital source said one man was killed by shrapnel from a tank shell.
It was the third major raid into Gaza this week and came hours after the army reported that a mortar shell had been fired, apparently from the Gaza Strip, and landed in a Negev desert community. In another incident, an antitank rocket reportedly landed near the Jewish settlement of Netzarim. There were no injuries in either incident.
On Thursday, witnesses said Israeli forces destroyed eight Palestinian houses in predawn raids in Gaza. Dozens of people were left homeless. One Palestinian was seriously hurt, Palestinian officials said.
Israel is using house demolitions to combat the nearly 2-year-old Palestinian uprising in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
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