Israeli forces raid Gaza Strip, kill 6

JERUSALEM – Israeli forces looking for cross-border tunnels raided the Gaza Strip on Tuesday with troops, tanks and aircraft and killed six Palestinians, including two civilians, during clashes with militants.

The 18-hour incursion was one of a series of limited offensives Israel has staged with increased intensity this summer, aiming to neutralize threats posed by Hamas and other Islamic movements without a costly reoccupation of the Palestinian territory.

Palestinian witnesses said about 20 tanks, three bulldozers and two combat helicopters crossed into Gaza from Israel shortly after midnight. Israeli troops went door-to-door in several villages east of Khan Yunis, took about 100 men into a soccer stadium and transported several dozen to Israel for interrogation, the witnesses said.

Hamas said it resisted the raid with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. An Israeli military spokesman said Israeli aircraft struck armed Palestinians in three attacks and ground troops shot a gunman during a clash.