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7 January 2011
Last updated at 15:04 ET
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The BBC's Jon Donnison in Ramallah says he has spoken with an Israeli press spokesperson, who confirmed the incident.
At least four Israeli soldiers have been injured in an exchange of fire with Palestinian militants near the Gaza border, Israeli media report.
Channel 10 said two soldiers had been taken to hospital while the others were treated at the scene.
The Israeli Defence Force has given few details of the incident, which took place near the Nirim kibbutz.
It follows a month of increased tension along the Gazan border with frequent exchanges of fire.
Witnesses told news agencies they heard loud explosions near the border and that the exchange of fire lasted about 20 minutes.
It was unclear which side had opened fire first, or whether any Palestinians were injured in the incident.
Increased activity An army spokesman told Channel 10 that the Palestinians had been trying to plant bombs under the border security fence, not far from the central Gaza town of Khan Yunis.
They were attempting to ambush a passing army patrol, said the spokesman.
Late on Wednesday, two Palestinian men were shot dead at the Gaza border - Israel said they had been attempting to break through the security fence but this could not be independently verified.
It is rare for Israeli soldiers to be injured in such clashes, but in recent week there has been an increase in activity around the border area, with Palestinians firing rockets into Israel, and the IDF carrying out regular air strikes on Gaza.
Israel says it holds Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, wholly responsible for all of the rockets fired across the border.
But the BBC's Jon Donnison in the West Bank says many of the attacks are carried out by smaller militant groups, and it is unclear whether Hamas has the power to prevent them.
Earlier on Friday, Israeli soldiers shot dead an elderly Palestinian man in his bed, in the West Bank city of Hebron.
Amr Qawasme, who was in his 60s, was killed in what is thought to have been a case of mistaken identity during a series of raids to capture members of Hamas.
He was neighbour of a Hamas member who had been released from prison the day before.
Israel said Mr Qawasme was innocent and that it regretted the incident. An investigation is being carried out.
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Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.The BBC's Jon Donnison in Ramallah says he has spoken with an Israeli press spokesperson, who confirmed the incident.
At least four Israeli soldiers have been injured in an exchange of fire with Palestinian militants near the Gaza border, Israeli media report.
Channel 10 said two soldiers had been taken to hospital while the others were treated at the scene.
The Israeli Defence Force has given few details of the incident, which took place near the Nirim kibbutz.
It follows a month of increased tension along the Gazan border with frequent exchanges of fire.
Witnesses told news agencies they heard loud explosions near the border and that the exchange of fire lasted about 20 minutes.
It was unclear which side had opened fire first, or whether any Palestinians were injured in the incident.
Increased activity An army spokesman told Channel 10 that the Palestinians had been trying to plant bombs under the border security fence, not far from the central Gaza town of Khan Yunis.
They were attempting to ambush a passing army patrol, said the spokesman.
Late on Wednesday, two Palestinian men were shot dead at the Gaza border - Israel said they had been attempting to break through the security fence but this could not be independently verified.
It is rare for Israeli soldiers to be injured in such clashes, but in recent week there has been an increase in activity around the border area, with Palestinians firing rockets into Israel, and the IDF carrying out regular air strikes on Gaza.
Israel says it holds Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, wholly responsible for all of the rockets fired across the border.
But the BBC's Jon Donnison in the West Bank says many of the attacks are carried out by smaller militant groups, and it is unclear whether Hamas has the power to prevent them.
Earlier on Friday, Israeli soldiers shot dead an elderly Palestinian man in his bed, in the West Bank city of Hebron.
Amr Qawasme, who was in his 60s, was killed in what is thought to have been a case of mistaken identity during a series of raids to capture members of Hamas.
He was neighbour of a Hamas member who had been released from prison the day before.
Israel said Mr Qawasme was innocent and that it regretted the incident. An investigation is being carried out.
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