Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations    

    GAZA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Four Israeli soldiers and four Palestinian militants were killed on Wednesday in a series of Israeli strikes and Palestinian attacks in southern and eastern Gaza Strip, Israeli and Palestinian sources said.

    Palestinian security sources closed to ruling Hamas movement and witnesses said that three Palestinians were killed and five wounded in a fresh Israeli airstrike on a house in Sheja'eya neighborhood in eastern Gaza City.

Israel Defense Forces are chasing after Palestinian gunmen infiltrated Israeli Nachal Oz fuel terminal bordering the Gaza Strip, on April 9, 2008. Two Israeli civilians were killed and two others injured during the attack on Wednesday. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Mo'aweya Hassanein, chief of emergency and ambulance services in the Palestinian health ministry confirmed that three Palestinians were killed and five wounded in the airstrike.

    The airstrike on the house came shortly after Palestinian militants infiltrated through an underground tunnel into the area of Nahal Oz crossing on the borders between eastern Gaza City and Israel.

    Three militant groups claimed responsibility in a leaflet sent to reporters for killing tree Israelis east of Gaza City, adding that the militants exchanged fire with Israeli soldiers in the area, killed three soldiers and pulled back into Gaza.

    The Islamic Jihad armed wing, the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) and the Mujahidin Brigades of Fatah movement claimed a joint responsibility for the attack on Nahal Oz.

    The Palestinian witnesses and the security sources said that a group of militants infiltrated into the Israeli crossing area, opened fire and killed three Israelis, adding that exchange of fire continued at the scene for a while.

    The three groups said in the leaflet that the militants infiltrated into Nahal Oz area through an underground tunnel, and the militants killed three Israelis and wounded a forth one and withdrew from the area.

    Meanwhile, an Israeli army spokesman told Israeli Radio that three Israelis were killed when Palestinian militants infiltrated into the area of Nahal Oz, and reinforcements of tanks and armored vehicles were sent to the area.

    Also on Wednesday, an Israeli army aircraft struck a car in Zaeitoon neighborhood southeast of Gaza City, said Palestinian security sources, and three Palestinians were injured, one in critical conditions.

    Earlier Wednesday, an Israeli soldier and an Islamic Hamas militant were killed during a four-hour Israeli military thrust into al-Garara village east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip.

    Both Islamic Jihad and Hamas armed wings claimed responsibility for killing the soldier. The Israeli army forces withdrew from the area after one Israeli soldier was killed.

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