A Palestinian militant was killed and another critically wounded Wednesday night as they were trying to carry out an attack on the Jewish settlement of Morag in southern Gaza Strip, witnesses and security sources said.

The two men, members of Saraya al-Quds, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad (Holy War), managed to infiltrate into the settlement and clashed with Israeli soldiers, security sources said.

Witnesses said they heard intensive gunfire for more than an hour and explosions around the settlement.

They said that Israeli soldiers urged the settlers to go into underground shelters and Israeli jeeps and armored vehicles, backed by helicopters, entered the settlement.

Source: Xinhua