GAZA, Nov. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Ezel Dein al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), claimed responsibility Wednesday for shelling Jewish settlements in southern Gaza.

    The brigades said in a leaflet that its militants fired three mortar shells at the settlement of Neveh Dekalim in Khan Yunis.

    In another leaflet, the brigades also claimed responsibility for attacking two Israeli army bulldozers.

    The leaflet said the brigades fired anti-tank shells at two bulldozers during an Israeli operation in the Block O area in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah.

    The two leaflets vowed to go on with holy war against the Israelis and Jewish settlements till "the enemy leaves our blessed lands."

    Israeli troops stormed late Tuesday the area of Block O, killing one Palestinian and wounding at least five others.

    About 20 Palestinian houses were demolished in the operation. Enditem