Clash follows incursion into Gaza

The DFLP has said it was behind some recent rocket attacks on Israel

Israeli troops have clashed with Palestinian gunmen after launching an incursion into the southern Gaza Strip.

Reports said soldiers entered Gaza near the Kissufim crossing and took control of a school and several buildings.

The official Palestinian news agency said the Israeli army bulldozers wrecked a large area of agricultural land, knocking down olive trees.

Overnight, the army killed a Palestinian militant in an air attack in northern Gaza.

It said it targeted Ibrahim Abu Olba, from the Democratic Front of the Liberation of Palestine - a faction that has said it was involved in recent rocket attacks against Israel.

Palestinian medics said three bystanders were also injured in the attack.

'Big explosion'

Earlier, Israel said it would resume fuel shipments to Gaza's power station.

The Israeli government cut supplies after Palestinian militants killed two Israelis in an attack on the Nahal Oz fuel terminal on Wednesday 9 April.

A spokesman for Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said the terminal would re-open on Wednesday, but warned the resumption of fuel deliveries might be delayed if there was a serious threat to security.

The Nahal Oz attack also prompted an incursion by Israeli troops into the central Gaza Strip on Friday during which at least eight Palestinians were killed, including two boys aged 12 and 13.

Separately, the political leader of the militant Palestinian movement Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, said there would be what he called a big explosion if the Israeli and Egyptian blockade of the Gaza Strip was not lifted.

The Hamas leader, who lives in the Syrian capital Damascus, did not give details, but said such a reaction could be expected within months.

In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri denied that the group had any plans to breach the border with Egypt and confront Egyptian troops.

Militants destroyed parts of the Gaza border with Egypt in January, allowing hundreds of thousands of people to stock up on much-needed supplies.

Egyptian officials have warned that they will not tolerate any further breaches of the border with Gaza.