At least two Israeli soldiers were moderately wounded Friday during heavy exchanges of fire with Palestinians in the West Bank city of Tulkarem.
The incident occurred between the Tulkarem refugee camp and the Palestinian Authority offices in the town.
It appears that the soldiers, part of an infantry patrol inside the city, came under fire from Palestinians. The soldiers returned fire, and Palestinian sources reported that eight Palestinians, including a four-year-old girl, were injured.
Palestinian hospital officials and witnesses said the Palestinians were wounded by an Israeli tank shell fired at a building in a refugee camp on the edge of town. Four were said to be from the same family and one was in critical condition.
Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli troops arrested five men during raids in Bethlehem and Hebron, both sides said. Palestinian sources reported that Israeli forces also entered two villages north of Tulkarem on Thursday night.
Gaza Strip
Israeli troops entered Gaza City early Friday, destroying three factories before they pulled out, Palestinian security sources and witnesses told AFP.
Tanks and jeeps moved more than two kilometers into Palestinian territory, targeting factories in the industrial zone of Zeitoun in the south of Gaza City, security sources said.
They blew up a metal factory, a fibreglass factory and a timber yard. No one was killed or injured in the incursion and the army pulled some out three hours later, security sources said Friday.
For its part, Israel said its forces uncovered a factory for the manufacture of Kassam rockets, during the operation in Zeitoun industrial zone. (Albawaba.com)
