By Xinhua,
Gaza : Three Islamic Jihad militants were injured on Tuesday afternoon in an Israeli airstrike on an area east of the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis, medics and witnesses said.
Mo’aweya Hassanein, chief of emergency and ambulance services in the Palestinian health ministry told reporters that three people were injured in the airstrike, one of them critically.
Witnesses said that an Israeli aircraft fired one missile at a group of Islamic Jihad militants east of the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip, adding that three were injured.
Earlier Tuesday, the group claimed responsibility in a leaflet sent to reporters for launching a homemade rocket from Gaza at Western Negev area in southern Israel.
Israeli Radio quoted Israeli army sources as saying that a homemade rocket fired from the Gaza Strip at southern Israel wounded at least five Israelis, two of them were moderately injured.
Egypt has been mediating a truce between Israel and Gaza militant groups led by Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) which rule the Gaza Strip since June last year. So far no progress has been announced that a deal on a truce was reached.
On Tuesday, Hamas has claimed responsibility for wounding an Israeli soldier in a fire exchange during an Israeli incursion into an area east of central Gaza Strip.
Ezz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said their fighters have opened fire towards Israeli Special Forces which entered the eastern part of central Gaza Strip.
Witnesses said that the shooting injured an Israeli soldier while Israeli press sources said he was moderately wounded and evacuated to a hospital in Be’er Sheva.
A number of Israeli tanks and bulldozers rolled for 800 meters into the Palestinian-controlled territory alongside the border fence. Such incursions have been regular since Hamas took over Gaza Strip a year ago.
Clashes erupted between Palestinian gunmen and the invading forces.