A member of Palestinian "Hamas" group and an Israeli soldier were killed Wednesday in clashes in the southern Gaza Strip. The Israeli military confirmed one soldier was killed and Two others were slightly wounded in the course of a brief operation in the area. Troops exchanged fire with Palestinian armed men, and Israeli aircraft struck twice against fighters who approached the border fence with Israel, it was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. Hamas said one of its fighters was killed in the operation, which concluded by early morning.