Israeli tanks and infantrymen on a night operation in the Gaza Strip killed two Palestinian fighters in a gun battle early Sunday, the military and Palestinian officials said. The Israeli troops were several hundred meters (yards) from the Israel-Gaza border fence when they encountered fighters from the Islamic Jihad organization, according to Gaza hospital officials and local residents. Two of the Islamic Jihad men were killed in the ensuing clash and three others were wounded, the officials said. Troops opened fire after two fighters approached the Israeli force, the Israeli military said.
