Two Palestinian fighters tried to infiltrate a Jewish settlement early Saturday, engaging in a gun battle with Israeli troops before they were killed in an Israeli air strike, the Israeli army and Palestinians said. The fighters, armed with explosives, crossed through an unauthorized area and approached the Gadid community in the Gush Katif settlement bloc, in southern Gaza, the Israeli army said. The two sides exchanged fire before an Israeli aircraft fired a missile at the fighters, it said. Soldiers later recovered explosives and a machine gun from the scene, the Israeli army said. The Israeli army said two militants were killed. Islamic Jihad group, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying two members were killed after a two-hour gun battle and a third member escaped. The Israeli army said one soldier was slightly wounded.
