LOC18:35
15:35 GMT
GAZA, May 21 (KUNA) -- A bloody confrontation broke out between Palestinian
combatants and the Israeli forces to the east of Abasan town, south Gaza
Strip, Friday afternoon.
At least two Palestinian fighters were killed and several others were
injured in the clashes, Director of Emergency and Ambulance Dept. of the
Palestinian Ministry of Health Mu'aweya Hasanein told KUNA.
"The fierce fighting is still going on, which prevented the medical teams
from reaching the site to evacuate the victims," he said.
"Contacts are underway with the International Federation of Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Israeli side to all us offer first-aid
to the victims," Hasanein pointed out.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said they killed two
Palestinian militants who approached the borders between Absan and Israel.
One of the two militants opened fire at an Israeli patrol which prompted
the forces to fire back and kill them, according to reports reaching here from
Israel.
On the other hand, Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian
Islamic Jihad (PIJ) organization said the confrontation erupted when the
Israeli occupation forces tried to intrude Khan Younos.
"Our fighters rebuffed the intruding Zionist forces," PIJ said in a
statement of which KUNA received a copy.
In March an Israeli officer and a soldier were killed in a joint ambush by
the PIJ and Ezz-Eddin Battalions, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic
Resistance Movement (HAMAS).
In unrelated development the Israeli occupation authorities have deported
three Palestinian residents of Beer Sheva, south Israel, to Gaza Strip this
afternoon.
Abdullah Abu-Dawwabah and his two children were forced to enter the strip
through the northern Erez crossing, thus pushing the number of Palestinian
deportees since the beginning of 2010 to 420, according to Palestinian human
rights groups. (end)
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