Israeli Apache helicopters strike on Gaza City

Israeli Apache attack helicopters fired at predawn on Monday three missiles at unidentified targets in Gaza City, Palestinian witnesses said.

They added that three huge explosions were heard, where ambulances and fire fighters rushed to the targeted area.

No injuries were reported according to medical sources.

Local residents said that the target in Gaza City is a workshop that makes metal products, adding that the three missile fired by the Apache helicopters had totally destroyed the place.

Israel has been targeting metal workshop, claiming that these workshops are used in manufacturing homemade weapons that militants are using in carrying out armed attacks against Israel.

Earlier, witnesses and security sources said that Israeli Apache attack helicopters fired missiles shortly after midnight at Palestinian targets in the southern Gaza Strip town of Kahn Younis.

They said that explosions were heard after the helicopters hovered over the area of Khan Younis, adding that no serious injuries were reported, but several buildings were damaged in the western part of Khan Younis.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian general security spokesman said the Israel Army has closed down all passages, crossings and terminals on the borders with the Gaza Strip and prevented people from going in or out until a further notice.

The spokesman said that the Israeli decision was officially informed to the Palestinian side, which warned that any Palestinian from approaching any terminal or crossing on the borders between Gaza and Israel.

The Israeli army has also divided the Gaza Strip into three isolated areas and prevented Palestinians from having access inside the Gaza Strip or move from town to town, the spokesman added.

The Israeli airstrikes on different targets in the Gaza Strip came in reaction to an attack carried out by both Hamas and Fatah movements' armed wings.

The two groups said in a joint leaflet that they blew up a tunnel under an Israeli army post south of the central Gaza Strip town of Deir el Ballah and killed five Israeli soldiers. But Israel denied the death toll, saying only one was killed and a dozen were injured.

Right after the attack, Israeli troops shot dead two Palestinians and wounded three others in western Khan Younis when the troops opened fire at al Namsawi neighborhood in the town.

Source: Xinhua