GAZA: Israeli troops rolled into east of Gaza city on Tuesday afternoon under a cover of heavy gunfire, witnesses said.
Four Israeli tanks backing two bulldozers moved 200 meters into the Al-Shijaiya neighborhood northeast of Gaza city, where they started to destroy agricultural areas.
Residents said the Israeli tanks opened heavy fire on civilians' houses to provide cover to the bulldozers. No one was injured during the incursion.
The Gaza Strip has been witnessing an Israeli military escalation under the pretext of destroying an underground tunnels in areas close to security fence on the border between Gaza and Israel. The Israeli Army said it is used by Palestinian fighters to carry out attacks against Israel.
In response to the escalation, local fighters fired mortar shell and homemade rockets into Israel.
Earlier last week, Israeli warplanes dropped thousands of leaflets, north and south of the Gaza Strip, warning residents to avoid coming within 300 meters of the security border fence with Israel.
On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the recent escalation in rocket and mortar fire from Gaza "stems from Hamas' failure to impose its will on other groups ... I advice Hamas in Gaza to weigh its steps in advance rather than drowning in crocodile tears afterward should they force us to act."
