TWO PALESTINIAN MILITANTS WHO WERE MEMBERS OF HAMAS' ARMED WING THE AL-QASSAM BRIGADES WERE KILLED ON SUNDAY IN AN EXCHANGE OF FIRE WITH ISRAELI SOLDIERS EAST OF RAFAH TOWN ON THE SOUTHERN GAZA STRIP, DPA REPORTED. PALESTINIAN SECURITY SOURCES REPORTED THAT A GROUP OF HAMAS MILITANTS REACHED GAZA AIRPORT EAST OF THE TOWN, AND CLASHED WITH ISRAELI ARMY FORCES WHO HAD INCURRED INTO EASTERN RAFAH SEVERAL DAYS AGO AND SEIZED THE AIRPORT AREA. WITNESSES IN RAFAH TOWN SAID THAT THEY HEARD INTENSIVE GUNFIRE IN THE ZONE CLOSE TO THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPORT HAD BEEN CLOSED DOWN BY ISRAEL SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PALESTINIAN INTIFADA IN THE YEAR 2000.