Monday, April 7, 2014

Israeli military vehicles enter Gaza, 'fire shell'


Published Monday 07/04/2014 (updated) 08/04/2014 11:32
 
(MaanImages/File)
 
GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli military vehicles entered the central Gaza Strip early Monday, witnesses told Ma'an.

Locals said six bulldozers escorted by military vehicles and tanks drove about 150 meters into Gaza east of Deir al-Balah.

A tank fired a mortar shell towards a Palestinian neighborhood, but no injuries were reported, witnesses added.

Bulldozers leveled lands in the area before they returned to the Israeli side of the border.

An Israeli military spokeswoman called the army's presence in the area "routine activity adjacent to the border fence" but was not familiar with any mortar shells being fired.

In a separate incident, she said the army prevented "a terror attack" in Gaza.

The army said in an emailed statement that "two suspects approached the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip, carrying a suspicious object and tampering with the ground."

"IDF (Israeli army) forces fired warning shots and the suspects fled the scene, leaving the object. Moments later the object exploded."

No injuries or damages were reported.