Three Palestinians and an Israeli soldier died in the Gaza Strip on Monday. An Israeli army spokeswoman confirmed that one Israeli soldier had been killed in clashes and added that two more had been lightly wounded.
According to AFP, the armed wing of Hamas movement announced earlier that "several Israeli soldiers" were injured in clashes with its fighters. Two Palestinians died in the northern Gaza Strip and a third in the south during clashes with Israeli forces and a civilian was also seriously wounded, medical sources conveyed.
Mohammed Hamad, 28, from the armed wing of Hamas and 44-year-old Farid Abu Odeh were killed by Israeli fire in the Beit Hanun area in the north during what witnesses said were heavy firefights.
Local medics said another 20 Palestinians were hurt, including three who were admitted to hospital in a serious condition.
An Israeli army spokeswoman confirmed that troops were operating in the area and that an air strike was called in against a "cell of gunmen who opened fire against IDF forces operating in Beit Hanun area."
In the southern Gaza Strip, Israeli soldiers shot dead another Hamas fighter, Ahmed Abu Tahun, 22, in a pre-dawn ground operation near the Sufa crossing with Israel, Hamas and medical officials said.
In the occupied West Bank, an Israeli soldier was injured when his patrol was attacked by Palestinian fighters, the army said. Troops detained three residents of the town of Nablus.
