By KUNA
Gaza : A Palestinian activist was killed and two others were injured Friday when an Israeli force opened fire at them south of Al-Qarara town of Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical sources said.
The sources said the killed is Bilal Al-Astal who is in his mid twenties and a member in Hamas’s military wing, Izzidin Al-Qassam Brigades.
Local radio stations quoted eyewitnesses as saying that a special Israeli force penetrated in Al-Qarara early Friday and clashed with Palestinian militants in the town which is close to the borders with Israel.
The said they heard the sound of heavy fire shooting.
Meanwhile, Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), claimed responsibility for firing mortar shells at a special Israeli force south of Gaza early Friday.
The brigades said in a press release distributed in Gaza that it fired seven mortar shells at the force that was near the Kissufim Israeli settlement near Al-Qarara.
The release said the attack was retaliation for Israeli arrests and chase of Palestinian resistance members in the West Bank.
In the meantime, Israeli military planes are flying over several cities in Gaza Strip.
Local radio stations urged citizens and militants to be careful, as the Israeli planes may execute raids to kill activists or bomb targets.