Israeli forces move into Gaza

July 05, 2007

Israeli troops killed at least three Hamas gunmen. An Israeli army spokeswoman said troops fired at Palestinian gunmen who had edged towards Israeli forces and had ignored calls to stop and warning shots.Palestinian youths fled the scene as the sound of heavy gunfire echoed through the buildings and orchards in the refugee camp of el-Boreigh. Later troops and Palestinian gunmen exchanged fire as Israel carried out what it described as "a routine operation" to locate Palestinian militants about a kilometre (half mile) inside Gaza.They were looking for those involved in a rocket attacks against Israel and searching for smuggling tunnels used by gunmen.