Hamas inflicts first Israeli combat death this year
By Nidal al-Mughrabi
GAZA (Reuters) - Israel lost its first soldier in combat in nine months on Thursday in a confrontation with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, where the Islamist group seized control over rival Palestinian factions a month ago.
In the clash, which fell on the anniversary of the start of Israel's war with Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas a year ago, two Palestinian gunmen also were wounded.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed that Israel "will continue to fight" the militants in Gaza, where Israel has sought to isolate Hamas' rulers who refuse to recognize Israel.
An Israeli military statement said the soldier was killed in a raid on militant targets in central Gaza, where the army has stepped up incursions since Hamas routed forces loyal to the Western-backed Palestinian president last month.
The soldier was the first Israeli killed in combat since November, a military spokeswoman said. Two other soldiers were wounded in the attack, while Israel wounded two gunmen of Islamic Jihad in an air strike.
Hamas's armed wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, said its gunmen ambushed the Israeli troops as they entered the al-Bureij refugee camp in Gaza, by detonating explosives and firing rocket-propelled grenades and machineguns.
The Qassam Brigades vowed it would pursue its strikes against Israel "to sow death among the soldiers of the occupation in our beloved Gaza Strip."
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