By KUNA,
Gaza : A Palestinian was killed and more than 24 others were injured in Israeli attacks in Gaza Strip early Friday.
Palestinian sources in Gaza City said Khalil Sokkar, 27, was shot dead by Israeli forces that sneaked to Al-Shujaiya district and that four people were injured after they the forces opened fire at them as they were trying to move Sokkar’s body from the place of incident.
Meanwhile, more than 20 Palestinians were injured in two Israeli air raids on Gaza City and Bait Lahya, north of Gaza Strip.
The first raid targeted a security site of the deposed Palestinian government in Bait Lahya, destroying it completely and injuring around 20 people, mostly civilians who lived in close homes, Palestinian security said.
They added that the building was evacuated before the attack by the Israeli F-16.
Eyewitnesses said that the bombardment damaged a main electricity transformer that provided power to large areas of the town and north Gaza Strip, leading to power blackout.
The second raid, conducted an hour after the first, targeted a metal workshop in Al-Darah district in central Gaza City.
The attack destroyed the workshop completely and damaged neighboring homes, but did not cause any injuries, witnesses pointed out.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak threatened Thursday evening that that a major military operation would be conducted in the Strip very soon.
In a meeting with heads of the southern Israeli settlements, Barak said the operation was closer than many could imagine, Israeli Radio reported.
It added that Israeli military officials stressed that restraint with the Palestinians became impossible, pointing out that the operation would begin in a week or two at most.
In the meantime, the military wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), the National Resistance Brigades, and Fatah’s military wing, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, claimed responsibility of firing two rockets at southern Israel.
The two groups said in a joint press release that the rockets were fired early Friday targeted Ozkim settlement.
The release said the group that fire the rockets survived an Israel bombardment that targeted them after their operation, adding that the operation came in response to the Israeli incursions, bombardments on the Palestinian civilians, and siege on Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, an Israeli soldier was injured Friday in a clash with Palestinian activists in eastern Gaza Strip, the Israeli Army said in a statement.