Israel destroys Gaza buildings

Israel says the buildings were being used by militants

The Israeli army has moved into the Gaza Strip to destroy buildings near the Netzarim Jewish settlement.

Israel troops temporarily evacuated 2,000 Palestinians early on Sunday, before blowing up three partly-completed tower blocks and levelling them in huge explosions, witnesses said.

The Israelis believe the buildings were being used by militants to observe troop movements, security sources said.

Three Israeli soldiers were killed at Netzarim on Friday, after Palestinian gunmen entered the settlement in an attack claimed by the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

The destroyed buildings were being constructed by Palestinian Preventive Security, the main security force in Gaza.

A police post at al-Zahara was also blown up by the Israeli army.

"For their security and for the period of the operation we have provisionally evacuated the population" of al-Zahara, one Israeli military source told the AFP news agency.

"They will be allowed to return once the operation is over."

Residents of Netzarim moved into bomb shelters while the buildings were blown up.

Heavy mists

In Friday's attack, the gunmen scaled an exterior fence under cover of darkness, armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles and several grenades, said the Israeli army.

"The terrorist opened fire at several soldiers in their housing sector, killing three and wounding two," said an army statement.

The dead were named as female sergeants Adi Osman and Sarit Schneor-Sinyor, both 19, and their male colleague 20-year-old chief sergeant Alon Avrahami.

One Hamas militant, Samir Fuda, was shot dead, and another escaped.

Major General Dan Harel told Israel Radio that militants had been increasing the intensity of their attacks in recent days to take advantage of the heavy mists that close in on Gaza at this time of year.

The attack followed a series of Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip earlier in the week which killed at least 11 Palestinians - militants and civilians - and triggered calls for vengeance.