Israeli northern Gaza offensive kills two Hamas fighters 

July 22, 2007 
People's Daily Online
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/6221375.html http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/6221375.html

Israeli forces staged pre-dawn ground operation in northern Gaza Strip Sunday, killing two militants from Islamic Hamas movement which holds the enclave.

Mohammed Ma'rouf, 19, and Mustafa Abbas, 20, were killed while preparing an ambush for the Israeli tank in northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahiya, Hamas' military wing said in a press release.

Witnesses said that the assailant force and the Palestinian fighters have exchanged fire for more than two hours. The militants have been injured and ambulances could not reach the area due to the fire until the two died of their wounds.

Since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip last month, Israel increased limited ground offensives into communities by the border between the Jewish state and the Hamas-run territory.

Another Israeli incursion has also taken place in Beit Hanoun town, a common place used by the Palestinian militant groups to fire rockets into Sderot city about 1 km away.

Saraya al-Quds, the Islamic Jihad's (Holy War) armed wing, said its gunmen have set off a roadside bomb near an Israeli tank in northern Gaza, adding that the vehicle was damaged but no casualties had been caused among the army crew.