IDF kills five Palestinians in Gaza border clashes

Islamic Jihad infiltration attempt to Israel foiled by IDF.

By YAAKOV KATZ
IDF gaza border 298.88 (photo credit: AP)
IDF gaza border 298.88
(photo credit: AP)
Five Palestinians were killed on Tuesday in clashes along the Gaza border, which heated up the day after Israel Navy commandos killed at least nine international activists during the takeover of the Mavi Marmara passenger ship.
In the morning, two Palestinians who infiltrated into Israel aftercutting through the security fence were killed during a shootout withIDF troops.
The Palestinians were spotted crossing into Israel near the EshkolRegion along the Gaza border and residents of nearby communities wereinstructed to remain inside their homes. The soldiers surrounded theinfiltrators and killed them during a short shootout. Both men wereidentified as Islamic Jihad operatives.
Later in the day, another three Islamic Jihad operatives were killed inan Israel Air Force strike in northern Gaza. The three, the IDF said,appeared to be involved in firing rockets into Israel and after thestrike a number of secondary explosions were recorded, indicating thepresence of explosives.
The IAF strikes came in response to two rocket attacks earlier in the day.