A gunfight erupted between Israeli troops and armed Palestinians near the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt Thursday after Israeli forces destroyed buildings during an incursion into Palestinian-controlled land, a Palestinian security source told AFP.
Israeli bulldozers and tanks moved some 200 meters (yards) into Palestinian territory in Rafah near the border with Egypt, destroying a Palestinian security position and two other buildings, the source told AFP.
An exchange of fire ensued for about an hour but no one was reported injured, the source said, adding that the bulldozers razed several hectares (acres) of farmland.
The army said it was checking the report when contacted by the agency.
But an Israeli army spokeswoman was quoted by The Jerusalem Post newspaper as claiming that “Palestinian gunmen had opened fire and threw two devices at a military post on the border but that the soldiers did not return fire.”
Meanwhile, the Palestinian news agency, WAFA, reported that the occupation troops entered PA-controlled areas in the West Bank city of Hebron.
Witnesses told the agency that 15 Israeli soldiers went as deep as 150 meters in the Karanteena area, firing tear gas and rubber bullets in the direction of Palestinian houses.
Following the incursion, clashes erupted between tens of Palestinians and Israeli troops in the area, said WAFA, adding that several Palestinians were injured.
In another development, the agency said that 20 Palestinian workers suffered respiratory problems after inhaling tear gas fired by the occupation troops in the West Bank city of Jenin.
Residents told WAFA that Israeli troops fired tear gas on the workers while on their way to Taybeh village inside the Green Line – Albawaba.com
