Tel Aviv/Gaza, July 3 (DPA) Israeli troops entered the northern Gaza Strip early Monday with a limited force to search for tunnels and mines, said an army spokesman.
Israel media quoted eyewitnesses with reports of soldiers occupying Palestinian houses in Beit Hanun; the army spokesman however did not confirm the reports.
The movement into northern Gaza is the first time Israeli troops have entered the area since strikes against Gaza were launched to secure the release of a soldier abducted last week.
Earlier, the Israeli air force hit two targets, a building in Gaza City used by the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and a warehouse in Beit Hanun allegedly used by the militant group to store short-range missiles, according to Israeli reports.
Two Palestinian militants who were members of Hamas' armed wing the al-Qassam Brigades were killed Sunday in an exchange of fire with Israeli soldiers east of Rafah town on the southern Gaza Strip.
Palestinian security sources reported that a group of Hamas militants reached Gaza airport east of the town, and clashed with Israeli army forces, who had incurred into eastern Rafah several days ago and seized the airport area.
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