Israeli aircraft fired a missile at Hamas fighters preparing to shoot mortar shells at Gaza Strip settlements Wednesday, the first such strike since a de facto cease-fire was declared in February 2005. Hamas said one of its members was critically injured in the attack.
Earlier, Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian fighter on the Gaza Strip-Egypt border, witnesses said, according to news agencies. They said Ahmed Barhoum, 22, a Hamas man, was hit in the head by a bullet. 
Israeli sources conveyed Palestinians shot at Israeli soldiers operating in the area, who returned fire.
Hamas stated the man was on a "jihadic mission" when he was killed. According to Palestinian sources, Barhoum was guarding the edge of the Rafah refugee camp.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
