Israeli forces on Saturday rolled in southeast Gaza Strip and Palestinian fighters engaged them, rupturing again the nearly-five-month-old ceasefire, witnesses said.
A number of tanks and bulldozers entered Khoza'a area in eastern Khan Younis city in southern Gaza. The bulldozers started to level the land, destroying fields and farms in the area, residents said.
The troops withdrew around the noon after Gaza militants said they exchanged fire with the forces. There was no reports on casualties.
During the operations, the Israeli forces detonated two explosive devices that were planted by Palestinian fighters near the security fence which separates Israel and Gaza.
The Egyptian-brokered ceasefire, which took effect on June 19, witnesses a series of violations this week with the death of seven Palestinians, most of them Hamas fighters, during Israeli airstrikes and ground operations near the border fence in Gaza Strip.
Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, fired tens of missiles into Israel following the first incursion and airstrikes on Tuesday. Hamas restrained later but other factions who reluctantly accepted the ceasefire continued firing the home-made rockets.
The ceasefire aims at easing Gaza blockade, which Israel imposed to isolate Hamas, in exchange for halting cross-border violence.
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article