Six killed, 32 wounded in Gaza fighting

At least six Palestinians were killed and 32 wounded in the Gaza Strip in fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants, the Safa news agency reported Sunday.

The clashes started Saturday after Palestinian militants attacked an Israeli jeep on patrol near the border with the northern Gaza Strip, dpa reported. Four soldiers were injured.

Israel responded with shelling aimed at eastern Gaza City, from where the anti-tank missile was launched at the jeep. Four Palestinians were killed and more than 24 injured, said Ashraf al-Qedra, the spokesman of Gaza's Health Ministry.

Israel also launched airstrikes at eight targets in Gaza, most after midnight, at what it said were weapons manufacturing and storage facilities and rocket launching sites.

Mohamed Shoukani of the Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the radical Islamic Jihad faction, was killed in one strike north-west of Gaza City, al-Qedra said.

A sixth body was found early Sunday, following a raid on Jabaliya, north of Gaza City.

After the Israeli strikes, Palestinian groups launched at least 35 rockets and mortar shells at Israel since Saturday, an army spokeswoman in Tel Aviv and police told dpa.

Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, claimed responsibility for the attack on the jeep.

Defence Minister Ehud Barak warned that Israel would not tolerate a further escalation of violence. Officials urged residents of southern Israel to seek shelter in bunkers.