Israeli airstrike kills 1 person, injures 4 in Gaza

Hamas and the Israeli Army said on Wednesday in Gaza that an Israeli airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip has killed one Palestinian militant and injured four others.

The Hamas movement, which controls Gaza, confirmed that the men were from its military wing the Qassam Brigades.

Peter Lerner, Israeli Army spokesman, said the men were trying to lay explosives near Israeli troops at the border.

He said security forces on the border with Gaza have been increasingly confronted with a threat from hostile terrorist groups who want to destabilise the situation.

Lerner said 18 months ago, more than 2,200 Palestinians and more than 70 Israelis were killed in a 50-day war between Israel and Hamas before a ceasefire. (dpa/NAN)