Israeli warplanes and tanks struck Paleotargets east of Gaza city on Wednesday killing six activists, medical sources said.The sources said the Israeli fire targeted fighters of three factions who were stationed in the district of Al-Shujaieh, adding that seven Palestinians were also wounded in the air-ground attack. The aircraft launched three strikes on the location, simultaneously with the firing of volleys of shells from Israeli-manned tanks, entrenched nearby.
Izz-Eddine Al-Qassam Brigades, military wing of the Islamic movement Hamas, said in a statement that three of the gunmen who were killed in the attack were members of the group. Al-Nasser Salah-Eddine, the military arm of the Peoples Resistance Committees identified two of the slain guerrillas as affiliates. The other slain one was linked to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military arm of Fatah.
Israel has recently stepped up military attacks on the strip saying the strikes were in retaliation for recurring missile offensives by the Palestinian factions in the region. Tel Aviv has described Hamas leadership in Gaza as a hostile target and vowed to "eliminate" it.