GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli forces backed by tanks and warplanes launched a raid into the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing five Palestinian Hamas militants, Hamas and medical officials said.
Local residents said Israeli tanks and heavy bulldozerspenetrated the border fence near the town of Jabalya in thecoastal territory.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said she was checking thereport.
A Hamas official said the militants belonged to theIslamist group, which seized control of the Gaza Strip in Junewhen it routed secular Fatah forces loyal to PalestinianPresident Mahmoud Abbas.
Israeli forces frequently carry out raids in the Gaza Stripto try and stop militants from firing rockets at southern partsof the Jewish state.
Hamas said it was responsible for a suicide bombing thatkilled a woman in Israel on Monday, the first such claim fromthe group since 2004.
(Writing by Avida Landau)
