Israeli ground forces and Palestinian fighters clashed inside the Gaza Strip on Tuesday night. According to Reuters, Palestinian witnesses said a column of Israeli armoured vehicles crossed the border in central Gaza Strip and came under mortar and machinegun fire.Israeli helicopters circled overhead as the soldiers surrounded the home of a senior Islamic Jihad member. The Islamic Jihad movement said the man was a leader of its armed wing. During the firefights at least three Palestinians wrere killed, reports have indicated. Among the victimes was a baby. Israeli officials said it was a "pinpoint operation." The soldiers seized two Islamic Jihad activist and were pulling out two hours after the incursion, witnesses said.