Israeli troops early Thursday shot dead a Hamas fighter who had infiltrated the hothouse area of the central Gaza Strip settlement of "Ganei Tal."
Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack. It identified the dead fighter as Muhnad Mahmoud al Laham, 18 from Khan Yunis.
The gun battle with the attacker began shortly after 6 A.M., and firing continued for at least a half hour. "An armed terrorist ... reached the hothouses at Ganei Tal. He opened fire and threw grenades at an Israeli force on patrol. They returned fire, killing him," an Israeli army spokeswoman said.
