Israeli army kills militant in Gaza clashes

Israeli army shot dead a Palestinian militant during clashes in eastern Gaza city on Friday, Palestinian medical sources said.

An ambulance worker said that a crew has found a dead body on Gaza's eastern border with Israel following cross-border exchange of fire.

Islamic Jihad movement, a smaller and more radical group in Gaza, said in a statement that the militant was one of its members.

Meanwhile, a statement released by the Israeli army said that the Israeli forces have fired at a Palestinian who was planting explosives near the security fence.

The statement said the militant threw a hand grenade at the soldiers who responded with gunfire, killing him on the scene.

Residents in Al-Shejaya neighborhood said sound of machine gunfire and blasts was heard, adding that a number of tanks, backed by helicopters, entered the area during the confrontations.

Hamas, which controls Gaza, tries to enforce a shaky ceasefire with Israel. However, militants from other factions and Israeli troops engage with each other on the border.

Source: Xinhua