"Israel" launches Gaza incursion

Source: Aljazeera, 4-4-2007
"Israeli" soldiers have entered the Gaza Strip for the first time since November, killing at least one Palestinian fighter.
Troops in tanks, bulldozers and jeeps moved 500m into farmland near the village of Beit Hanoun and clashed with Palestinians near the separation barrier, security sources said on Wednesday.
The Islamic Jihad group said that soldiers had shot and killed Ramez Awad al-Zaanin, as he was trying to plant an explosive device in the path of oncoming tanks.
A second fighter was wounded.
"Israel" claimed it had carried out a limited incursion after three Palestinians were seen trying to plant an explosive charge and said it immediately withdrew its soldiers afterwards.
"A unit operating on the `Israeli` side saw three men placing an explosive charge close to the fence," a spokesman claimed to the AFP news agency.
"The soldiers penetrated inside the area and exchanged fire with the militants, hitting two of them," he added.
On Monday, Amir Peretz, the "Israeli" defence (war) minister, authorised the army to carry out limited operations in the Gaza Strip.
He told reporters that "Israel" would "not allow the continued strengthening and arming" of Palestinian groups.