The radical Hamas movement and the Israeli army renewed clash in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday to break a fragile ceasefire announced in February.

The clash started when a Hamas militant on an armed mission was killed at predawn. Hamas said an Israeli soldier shot dead the man, while Israel said the man was killed as a bomb he was carrying exploded.

Following the death of 25-year-old Ahmed Barhoum, Hamas armed wing al Qassam Brigades claimed responsibility for firing seven homemade mortar shells at the Jewish settlement of Morag in southern Gaza.

An Israeli army spokesman said that the settlement was attacked, but there was no damage or injury.

In Khan Younis, an Israeli reconnaissance plane fired Wednesday afternoon a missile at a group of militants, members of al Qassam Brigades, medics and witnesses said.

They said that one of the militants was critically wounded, and the injured was identified as 24-year-old Ahmed Shahwan.

Witnesses said a group of Hamas militants stood close to a mortar launcher west of the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis to fire a homemade mortar at the settlement of Naveh Dekalim, west of the town.

They said that an Israeli small reconnaissance plane flew over the area and fired one missile at the militants.

Some reports said Shahwan died at Nasser Hospital of his wounds, but the hospital said he did not die.

It was the first time that an Israeli reconnaissance fired a missile at militants since a mutual truce was declared at a summit in Egypt in February.

"We tell (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon and all those who are paving the road for him that security which Israel is enjoying these days will not last for too long if your aggression continues against our people," Hamas said in a leaflet.

Following the airstrike, Hamas claimed responsibility for firing four mortar shells and four Qassam homemade rockets at Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip.

Source: Xinhua