Two dead due to Israeli shelling in Gaza clash

The spokesman for Ambulance & Emergency in the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip, Abu Selmia, confirmed the killing of two young men in Israeli shelling. The shelling occurred near a border fence north of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, where they were transferred to Kamal Adwan hospital. Selmia said in a phone call to ‘Arabstoday’ that the men were killed during clashes with Zionist special forces. ‘Arabstoday’ has learnt that the men belonged to "Al-Quds Brigades", the military wing of Islamic Jihad. The events occurred after a Palestinian resistance group was confronted on Thursday by Israeli special force, who went to Abu Nada north of Beit Lahia.. Witnesses confirmed that they heard sounds of shelling and shots, while clashes are reportedly still underway. Eyewitnesses reported mortars and light weapons were being used in the clashes between Palestinian militants and soldiers of the occupation. Israeli artillery apparently fired at least three shells at resistance fighters after a machine-gun clash between an Israeli infantry force attempting to enter the area of Hamdouna, north of Beit Hanoun. IDF warplanes also fired at least two missiles, towards open lands north to the Gaza Strip, and are still in service. Eyewitnesses believe there are wounded fighters among the resistance, as ambulances were seen rushing to the scene. Occupation tanks fired a number of artillery shells during the clashes at land belonging to local farmers, which led to property being burnt down. Violence has escalated just two days after the declaration of simultaneous truce between Palestinian resistance factions and the Zionist entity. The Israeli army stressed that its forces killed two Palestinian militants during the clashes, when Israeli aircraft intervened firing several missiles at resistance sites. The Israeli army added that an Israeli army unit of the Engineer Corps came under fire and mortar shelling at the borders north to the Gaza Strip. A military vehicle was damaged but no injuries were reported. The Israeli army stated that there were no soldier casualties. Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli forces withdrew after clashing violently with the resistance and Israeli bombing that reached the the town of Lahia. The Gaza Strip is experiencing an uneasy calm after Egypt brokered a truce between the Occupation and the resistance factions, after three days of the Israeli escalation which left 12 dead and dozens wounded.