JERUSALEM
The Israeli army said Saturday that some of its troops were subject to gunfire southern the Gaza Strip from two fighters affiliated with the Gaza-based resistance movement Hamas.
The army added on its Twitter account that its soldiers had managed to gun down the two Hamas fighters.
It noted that the attack did not result in any casualties among Israeli troops currently staging a ground incursion into northern and southern Gaza.
Anadolu Agency, meanwhile, could not obtain immediate comments on the statements of the Israeli army from Hamas.
At least 339 people have been killed and nearly 2390 injured in relentless Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian health officials.
Since July 7, Israel has been pounding the Gaza Strip, home to some 1.8 million Palestinians, with crippling air and naval bombardments with the ostensible aim of halting rocket fire emanating from the strip.
On Thursday night, Israel stepped up its offensive to include ground operations, sending troops into the embattled coastal enclave.
Israel's military operation, dubbed "Operation Protective Edge," is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against Gaza in the last six years.
By Abdel-Raouf Arnaout
www.aa.com.tr/en
