Witnesses living in the village of Al-Faraheen, east of Khan Younis, said heavy explosions and sounds of gunshots could suddenly be heard in the area at dawn on Tuesday. They added that Israeli helicopters and drones were backing Israeli troops on the ground and that the exchange of fire lasted until sunrise.
Israel Radio reported that the army had confirmed that an incident had taken place east of Khan Younis and that Palestinian fighters were killed after they tried to infiltrate from Gaza into Israel.
Mouawiya Hassnien, a health ministry official in Gaza, told Arab News that heavy exchange of fire took place in Al-Faraheen. The official could not confirm the deaths. He added that medical crews are waiting in the area to evacuate bodies.
The Israeli military reported overnight the firing of a homemade rocket from Gaza into the Western Negev with no casualties reported. Al-Aqsa Brigades, the military wing of the Fatah movement, claimed responsibility for firing two rockets toward Israel and said that the attack was in response to Israeli crimes against the Freedom Flotilla.
Tensions were high on Tuesday in the aftermath of an Israeli combat operation at sea on Monday morning that saw Israeli armed soldiers descend from helicopters onto six aid ships that were attempting to break the ongoing blockade imposed on Gaza. Ten anti-blockade activists were killed in the operation.
Meanwhile, an elderly woman was severely wounded in Rafah on Tuesday morning when Israeli troops positioned near the fortified Karm Abu Salem crossing fired at civilian houses east of the city.
Medical sources at Al-Najar Hospital identified the wounded woman as Salma Abu Shaloof, 65. Witnesses said the woman was tending to her goats in the area when she was shot.
