Eight killed in covert Israeli action in Gaza

Seven Palestinians, including a local militant commander, have been killed during a covert Israeli operation in Gaza, Palestinian officials say.

An Israeli soldier was also killed and another wounded, the Israeli military said, after a firefight erupted, BBC reported.

Palestinians said an Israeli unit travelling in a civilian vehicle had killed the Hamas commander.

It was followed by rocket-fire into Israel, while on Monday a Palestinian mortar hit an Israeli bus.

Initial reports say the vehicle was empty, although a 19-year-old was seriously hurt, Israel’s ambulance service said.

What happened?

According to Palestinian sources, the Israeli unit was about 3km (2 miles) inside the Gaza Strip, which borders Israel, when it fired at Nur Barakeh, a commander of the Izzedine al-Qassam brigades, Hamas’ military wing.

The incident is reported to have happened east of Khan Younis, in the south of the territory.

A gun battle erupted and Israeli tanks and aircraft opened fire in the area, witnesses said.

 

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