Five Palestinians killed in Gaza

Israel went into the Khan Yunis camp for the third time in two weeks

Five Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli army incursion into the Khan Yunis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian sources say two 17-year-old civilians were killed by Israeli automatic weapons fire.

Three militants were killed by Israeli aircraft missile fire during overnight fighting in the camp.

It was the third raid into the camp in the past two weeks, aimed at stopping mortar attacks on nearby Jewish settlements, the Israeli military says.

Soldiers wounded

The dead Palestinian teenagers have been named as Osama Tuma and Mohammed Abu al-Said.

Two of the militants are believed to have been members of Hamas - one of them local field commander Yehiya Abu Baka.

The third militant was reported to be a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' brigade - a militant faction linked to the mainstream Fatah organisation.

Two Israeli soldiers were lightly wounded, the Israeli army said.

The Gaza strip has been occupied by Israel since 1967.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is planning to pull out all 8,000 Israeli settlers and the troops who protect them from 21 fortified enclaves in Gaza. Israel will maintain control of Gaza's borders, coastline and airspace.