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Israel kills five Hamas gunmen in Gaza


    GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli troops backed by tanks and warplanes launched a raid into the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing five Hamas gunmen and a schoolteacher, the ruling Palestinian Islamist faction and hospital officials said.

    Residents said tanks and heavy bulldozers penetrated theborder fence near the town of Jabalya in the coastal territory.Israeli forces also struck in Beit Hanoun, a border communityoften used by Palestinian militants to fire rockets intoIsrael.

    Hamas said five of its gunmen died fighting the Israelitroops. Hospital officials said an Israeli missile hit a schoolin Beit Hanoun, killing a teacher and wounding two colleagues.

    A military spokeswoman confirmed Israeli forces wereoperating in the Gaza area but said she could not immediatelyelaborate.

    Hamas said it was responsible for a Palestinian suicidebombing that killed a woman in Israel on Monday, the first suchclaim from the group since 2004.

    Israeli forces frequently carry out raids in Gaza to tryand counter cross-border rocket fire by Hamas and othermilitant groups.

    Five rockets were launched on Thursday, the Israeli armysaid, but there was no immediate word of casualties or damage.

    Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in June when itrouted secular Fatah forces loyal to Palestinian PresidentMahmoud Abbas, who has revived peace talks with Israel. Hamasrefuses to give up its fight against the Jewish state.

    (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Writing by Avida Landau,Editing by Ralph Gowling)