3 "Israelis", 7 Palestinians Killed in Clashes

Source: Alalam TV, 9-04-2008
GAZA--Three 'Israelis' were killed and seven Palestinians martyred on Wednesday in an explosion of violence around the Gaza Strip border after Palestinian commandos stormed into 'Israel'.
The attack came after an early morning gunbattle left an 'Israeli' soldier was killed and a Palestinian fighter martyred, shattering a month-long lull that followed a bloody 'Israel'i blitz on Gaza aimed at halting rocket fire.
Two resistance fighters and five civilians including a teenage boy were among the Palestinians martyrs.
The 'Israeli' army said Palestinian fighters breached the border near the Nahal Oz fuel terminal east of Gaza City and moved into 'Israel' under the cover of a barrage of 15 mortar rounds.
The fighters killed two 'Israelis' in their 30s, according to the Magen David Adom rescue service, in what the army claimed a "failed abduction attempt."
Islamic Jihad and two other smaller military groups claimed responsibility.
The army said two Gaza fighters were killed at the border, as emergency and security services across southern 'Israel' went on high alert.
Shortly afterwards, an 'Israeli' military aircraft hit a vehicle carrying Islamic Jihad fighters in Gaza City, injuring three, Palestinian medics said.
Minutes later, 'Israeli' tanks entered Gaza through Nahal Oz, and five Palestinian civilians were killed, including a 15-year-old boy, when an artillery round slammed into a nearby house, medics said.
Another three people were wounded, including a teenage girl, they said.
Wednesday's attack was claimed by Islamic Jihad, the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), and the Mujahedeen, a little-known group which claimed to be linked to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmud Abbas's Fatah party.
Spokesmen from Islamic Jihad and the PRC said the operation was aimed at seizing 'Israeli' soldiers.
"This martyrdom operation followed the operation in which we killed a soldier at Khan Yunis and it will be followed by other operations to respond to 'Israeli' aggressions and crimes," said Abu Ahmed, a spokesman for Islamic Jihad.
A gunbattle had erupted before dawn on Wednesday near the border fence east of the southern town of Khan Yunis, killing an 'Israeli' soldier and a Hamas fighter.