Israeli troops killed in Gaza border clashes

[The Grim Squeaker]

Two Israeli soldiers have been killed during clashes with Hamas fighters on the Gaza Strip's southern border, the Israeli army has said.

Two other soldiers were wounded during the fighting which broke out east of the town of Khan Younis.

Two Palestinian militants were also killed in the clashes, Palestinian and Israeli sources say.

The unrest may have been sparked by a bid by militants to seize an Israeli soldier, a BBC correspondent says.

Palestinian militants carried out a raid across the fence line and the Israeli military then appears to have pursued them back into Gaza, says the BBC's Paul Wood, in Jerusalem.

'Further response expected'

According to Palestinian sources, Israeli forces responded using tank shells and heavy machine guns, our correspondent adds.

In a statement sent to the BBC, Hamas' armed wing - the Al-Qassam Brigades - said it killed the two Israeli soldiers.

Speaking to Reuters news agency, Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida is quoted as saying: "This was our work, but was carried out for defence".

Local sources in Gaza say another smaller group, the PFLP General Command, was also involved. This was broadly the same coalition responsible for seizing Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit more than three years ago, our correspondent says.

Eyewitnesses in the area described a brief period of heavy clashes and also said that a powerful explosion took place.

Our correspondent says that, if the past is any guide, a further Israeli military response can also now be expected.

A ceasefire between Israel and Islamist militant group Hamas, which governs Gaza, has largely held since the 2008-2009 conflict with Israel. Gaza remains under an Israeli-led blockade.

Fuck. And this looked to be such a nice holiday.

[CJvR]

Well timed, if Korea heats up over the sinking the IDF can probably get away with using the big sledgehammer again. It seems as if the islamists needs some more cast lead.

[Ace Pace]

Well timed, if Korea heats up over the sinking the IDF can probably get away with using the big sledgehammer again. It seems as if the islamists needs some more cast lead.

Do they? When Gaza looks more and more like the result of an artillery divisions playground? Sure, it's no Stalingrad, but anyone who wants the population there to get fucked even more has something wrong in his head.

[Darth Yan]

CJ, I can't help but feel uncomftorable with your comments. You come across as a genocidal racist.

[Sarevok]

Recently few clashes with IDF have ended very badly for Hamas . How did manage this impressive act of killing two Israeli soldiers and wounding two more for the loss of only two of their own ?

[Ace Pace]

Recently few clashes with IDF have ended very badly for Hamas . How did manage this impressive act of killing two Israeli soldiers and wounding two more for the loss of only two of their own ?

The news article is very unclear. Haarez (warning hebrew) reports that it could be that fire from the Palestinians detonated either ammunition or grenades in the soldiers vests.

[weemadando]

Latest I heard on the Beeb was that it was an combined IED/small arms ambush. Which would certainly account for it.