Israeli helicopter gunships fired missiles at a building near Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday, targeting suspected militants, the military said. Witnesses said the strikes hit a multi-storey building and that tanks also opened fire shortly afterwards. Palestinian medical sources said there were no casualties and that a group of people inside the building was able to escape.
Israeli helicopters "struck a building in the central Gaza Strip where suspected militants were hiding," a military spokesman told AFP. "The militants planted explosive devices earlier today and planned to fire at IDF (Israel Defence Forces) soldiers," a statement added.
"The militants returned fire toward the forces. No injuries were sustained amongst the IDF soldiers. A direct hit was confirmed." In a separate incident, two bullets fired from the northern Gaza Strip hit a kibbutz, causing damage but no injuries, Israeli police said.