At least 11 Palestinians kiiled and 20 wounded when scores of Israeli tanks, accompanied by bulldozers and attack helicopters, raided Gaza City late Tuesday and early Wednesday.
Hamas claimed Wednesday that once again, it destroyed a tank, this time with a suicide bomber. Israel said it knew nothing about such an attack.
Several of the tanks entered the neighborhood of Shajaiyeh. Witnesses said the tanks were moving toward the neighborhood from three directions.
Residents said the helicopters fired machine guns, killing at least three Palestinians. Calls came from mosque loudspeakers for Palestinian fighters to come out and confront the occupation forces.
Several tanks surrounded a Hamas elementary school in the nearby Tufah section. Soldiers blew up a metal workshop, one of the largest in the city, Palestinians said.
The Israelis left behind considerable destruction when they pulled out of the city before 4 a.m., residents said.
Earlier, witnesses said an Israeli helicopter fired a missile at a car, but the missile did not explode and the passengers were not hurt.
Meanwhile, a large Israeli force entered Nablus early Wednesday morning carrying out searches and exchanging fire with Palestinian fighters, Palestinian sources said.
According to the sources, a 32-year-old Palestinian bakery worker and a Palestinian boy were shot and killed by the troops.
Israeli troops early Wednesday morning also destroyed the West Bank home of a Palestinian activist. The soldiers moved into the village of Jamaim, south of Nablus, and destroyed the house of Hafez Naif Hussein.
Also in Nablus, occupation troops arrested eight wanted Palestinians. (Albawaba.com)
