Israeli helicopter gunships rocketed a Palestinian naval police headquarters in the Gaza Strip town of Deir Al Balah early Saturday, following a Palestinian attack on a nearby army outpost, Palestinian security sources said.
No injuries were reported in the attack which severely damaged the naval police building, security sources said.
The Israeli attack was in response to Palestinian militant activity in the area, including mortar fire on a nearby Israeli army post and an attack on an outpost guarding the Jewish settlement of Kfar Darom, an army statement said.
"In response to mortar fire near Erez junction and terror attacks near Kfar Darom, the army attacked a naval police headquarters in Deir Al Balah in the Gaza Strip," the statement said.
Israeli tanks earlier stormed Palestinian-controlled territory near the Gaza Strip town, and seriously injured four Palestinians with light machinegun bullets, Palestinian security and hospital sources said.
The Israeli army said tanks were sent into the area to hunt down Palestinian militants who opened fire and threw grenades at an army post near the Kfar Darom settlement.
An Israeli soldier was slightly wounded in the Palestinian attack, the army said. Meanwhile, mortar bombs were fired at an Israeli outpost at the nearby Erez junction, but no injuries were reported.
Earlier, Israeli tanks opened fire with heavy machineguns on the Khan Yunis refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip Friday, wounding one man and damaging several houses, hospital sources and witnesses said.
The man was treated by medics after receiving wounds to his hand when bullets flew through his home as the machinegun fire lightly damaged three homes in the camp, the sources said.
The Israeli army said it knew nothing of the incident.
Bureau Report
