Health and security officials in the Gaza Strip say at least six Palestinians have been killed and six others wounded by Israeli forces who carried out a ground incursion in the besieged enclave.
Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health in Gaza, said in a statement the six Palestinians were killed in an Israeli attack east of the city of Khan Younis.
Among those reportedly killed was a local commander of the armed wing of Hamas, the group administering the Strip.
A Hamas official said on Sunday a group of its men were fired at from a passing car belonging to Israeli security forces and Hamas members gave chase.
Witnesses said that during the chase Israeli aircraft fired over 40 missiles in the area where the incident took place, killing four other people.
A Hamas spokesperson denounced what he called a "cowardly Israeli attack."
The Israeli military said in a brief statement that: "During IDF (Israel Defense Forces) operational activity in the Gaza Strip, an exchange of fire evolved."
Further details were not immediately available.
Agencies
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