IDF kills 6 in Gaza, including at least 4 militants

At least six Palestinians, including three Hamas militants and the 70-year-old mother of one of them, were killed and at least 20 were hurt in an IDF operation in the Khan Yunis area of central Gaza yesterday, Palestinian sources said.

A soldier in the Israel Defense Forces was lightly wounded during an exchange of fire.

Gaza sources said Israeli bulldozers cleared agricultural areas in southern Gaza and damaged several houses in the area. The operation began early yesterday and ended late last night.

The operation, which took place some two kilometers inside Palestinian territory, was one of several dozen aimed at arresting suspects and attempting to foil attacks that use underground tunnels or explosives placed near the Gaza border fence.

The troops encountered several armed Hamas and Islamic Jihad cells, sparking a gun battle that included Israeli aircraft. At least two Hamas militants and an Islamic Jihad gunman were killed in the fighting. The woman who was killed died when she went out to see her son's body, according to a statement by Hamas.

The IDF said it expects the Palestinian death toll to rise as the bodies of other Hamas men killed in the operation are discovered. The army said the Palestinians' opposition in Gaza was relatively strong, organized and disciplined, similar to the way Hezbollah operates in southern Lebanon.

Each Hamas cell contained six to eight militants armed with weapons including rocket-propelled grenades, explosives and communications devices. The Palestinians also fired a fairly large number of anti-tank rockets at the IDF troops.

The IDF soldier who was hit in the fighting was wounded in the back and transferred to Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva.

IDF troops detained several dozen Gaza men for questioning, and were set to bring some of them to the Shin Bet security service for further questions. Troops also discovered an explosive belt, RPG launchers and a bomb during searches of homes in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Palestinians fired at least two Qassam rockets and several mortar shells at southern Israel, causing no injuries.

In the West Bank, Palestinians opened fire on an Israeli vehicle west of Hebron. There were no injuries. Also yesterday, the IDF arrested 13 wanted Palestinians.

In a final incident, a southern Gaza family exchanged fire with members of the Hamas Executive Force, killing two Hamas militants.