GAZA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Several Israeli tanks and armored vehicles thrust on Thursday into an area east of central Gaza Strip, Palestinian security sources said.

    The tanks rolled about 500 meters into a Palestinian-controlled area near Kissufim crossing on the Palestinian-Israeli borders, the sources said.

    It was the first Israeli military ground incursion into the Gaza Strip following an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip last September, the sources said.

    The sources said the incursion was aimed at inspecting the area, where two Palestinian gunmen were shot dead on Wednesday by Israeli troops when they were planning an attack on the crossing. Commenting on the incursion, local leader of the Islamic Jihad(Holy war) Shiekh Nafez Azzam said that a large-scale operation was unlikely, "because Israel had pulled out from Gaza forcibly" to evade more losses.

    The Israeli army has not confirmed the operation. Enditem