A Palestinian militant from the Gaza Strip and an Israeli soldier were killed during an exchange of fire in southern Israel on Friday, dpa quoted the Israeli military as saying. The Palestinian had cut through the heavily guarded border fence between Israel and the southern Gaza Strip shortly before dawn, and under cover of heavy mist. He opened fire on Israeli soldiers who spotted him and was shot dead in the ensuing clash. Israeli forces then fired several shells at on open area near Khan Younis, the Gaza town closest to where the incident took place. An Israeli officer and a soldier were lightly injured by Palestinian sniper fire in the same area a week ago.