IDF kills 5 Hamas members, another armed man in Gaza

Six armed Palestinians were killed by the Israel Defense Forces in two incidents in the Gaza Strip yesterday. Five of the dead were Hamas members.

In the first incident, which occured east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, the five Hamas members were hit by IDF missiles. The five belonged to Murabitun, the Hamas border guard. The five were located at a number of positions near the border, and according to the IDF were "involved in terror action" when they were attacked from the air.

The sixth Palestinian, apparently a member of a terror organization, was killed close to the Jabaliya refugee camp near Gaza City when an IDF unit was attacked by armed men and returned fire.

The IDF has killed more than 25 Palestinians clashes since Thursday. The IDF said all were armed and intended to carry out attacks on soldiers or other Israeli targets.

Fifteen mortars and some five Qassam rockets were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip between Friday morning and last night. An anti-tank missile and light weapons were fired at an IDF tank from the central Gaza Strip.

News agencies reported Friday that demonstrators from Cairo supporting the residents of the Gaza Strip clashed with Egyptian police in El Arish in Sinai as police prevented a convoy of protesters from reaching the border.

The Egyptian police also announced they had found some 350 kilograms of explosives and eight rockets in the house of a Bedouin woman in Sinai. The announcement came the day after the Egyptian police said they had uncovered two weapons-smuggling tunnels to Gaza.

The IDF arrested two Palestinians wanted for questioning on Friday night south of Nablus. The force came under fire but there were no injuries.

Meanwhile, today's planned release by Israel of 429 Palestinian prisoners has been delayed until tomorrow at the request of the Palestinian Authority.