Israeli forces arrested three Palestinians Monday during a swift incursion in the eastern areas in the middle of the Gaza Strip, local sources said.

Several tanks and bulldozers rolled into the east of al-Buraij refugee camp and raided the closest houses to the border fence that separates Gaza and Israel.

During the course of the incursion, Palestinian militants fired an anti-tank shell at Israeli forces and the two sides exchanged fire. There is no report on casualties.

The Israeli forces withdrew after arresting three residents.

Meanwhile, Israel partly opened its commercial crossing points with the Gaza Strip to allow reduced amounts of fuel and humanitarian aid into the Hamas-controlled enclave.

Israel has been imposing a blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized control of the coastal area in June 2007.

In late December, Israel started a major three-week military offensive in Gaza, killing nearly 1,400 Palestinians and destroying thousands of houses and infrastructure.

Source: Xinhua