Israeli forces have killed two Palestinians during an raid early this morning into the Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, Palestinian officials said.
The bodies of the two victims, Nassim el Mehela (25) and Baker Hadura (25), were found early this morning; a third Palestinian was wounded.
Earlier, Yiad Abu Zayad (28) was shot dead. He was in a car with his brother, who was wounded, when soldiers opened fire during an incursion into the camp, sources said.
An Israeli army spokesman said an operation had been carried out in Maghazi camp and that Palestinians had opened fire on the soldiers who had replied, hitting several of them.
The Israeli army started two incursions into the Gaza Strip late last night, the day after a double suicide attack in Tel Aviv killed 22 people as well as the two bombers, Palestinian security officials said.
Some 30 tanks and armoured vehicles backed up by helicopters moved in to autonomous territory in the central Gaza Strip around Maghazi. There were exchanges of fire, the officials said.
The army also entered the Khan Yunes sector in the south of the Gaza strip where bulldozers destroyed several homes.
Earlier, the Israeli navy imposed a blockade on the coast of Gaza, forbidding fishermen to go out in the Mediterranean.
AFP