An Israeli soldier was killed and two more were wounded during an overnight anti-terror operation on the outskirts of Gaza City.
The casualties occurred when a Palestinian terrorist cell approached and attacked the Israeli incursion force in the el-Bureij suburb. The ensuing gun battle lasted into the morning hours, when Israeli air force strikes left at least two of seriously wounded.
Israel has been launching limited ground incursions into Gaza for the past several weeks in an effort to curb Palestinian rocket fire on southern Israel and hinder the massive terrorist infrastructure Hamas is setting up in the territory.