Israel launched a new incursion into Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip early on Friday, after killing a member of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's elite force 17 guards in a northern section, Palestinian security sources said.
Israeli tanks and bulldozers entered an autonomous Palestinian section of Rafah, sparking heavy exchanges of gunfire, they said. Two Palestinians were wounded during the battle, one seriously, they said, adding that a Palestinian security position was destroyed and five houses were damaged.
Just hours earlier, Israeli tanks fired on a Palestinian position in the northern Gaza Strip, near the Israeli settlement of Netzarim, and killed force 17 member Sami Barud, they said. Three other members of the elite unit were wounded, one of them seriously, they said.
An Israeli military spokesman had no comment on either event.
Barud's death brings to 759 the number of people killed since the start of the Palestinian uprising in September, including 581 Palestinians and 156 Israelis. Earlier last evening, Israel launched a brief incursion into central Gaza near an entry point to Israeli territory and destroyed a Palestinian position with bulldozers, Israeli public radio reported, citing military sources.
Bureau Report