GAZA CITY – An exchange of fire erupted during an Israeli militaryoperation in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, killing six Palestinians and anIsraeli soldier, officials said, while potentially dashing hopes that arecent agreement would restore calm.
As tensions rose following the clash, Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu´s office said he would cut short his trip to Paris, where he hadbeen attending World War I commemorations, and return home.
Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for Hamas, which runs the blockaded Gaza Strip,denounced a “cowardly Israeli attack”.
Palestinian security sources said the clash included Israeli air strikes.
After the clash erupted, sirens were reported in southern Israel indicatingpossible rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.
Ten launches from Gaza towards Israel were identified and two wereintercepted by Israeli missile defences, the army said. It was notimmediately clear where the others had landed.
Details were still emerging of the incident that Palestinian officials saidoccurred east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.
Gaza´s health ministry said six Palestinians were martyred.
The dead included a local commander for Hamas´s armed wing, the Ezzedineal-Qassam Brigades, the brigades said in a statement. He was identified asNour Baraka.
Israel´s army confirmed one soldier was killed and another was injured.
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“During an (Israeli) special forces operational activity in the Gaza Strip,an exchange of fire evolved,” the army said in a statement.
“At this incident, an IDF officer was killed and an additional officer wasmoderately injured,” it added, referring to the Israel Defence Forces.
It added that the operation was now over.
Hamas´s armed wing alleged in a statement that an Israeli special forcesteam infiltrated near Khan Yunis in a civilian car.
Israel´s military had not confirmed those details nor described what typeof operation it carried out.
A ground operation inside the Gaza Strip would be rare and likelysignificantly boost tensions.
Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman held security consultations atmilitary headquarters, his office said. – APP/AFP
