Israel presses new Gaza incursion

Children rest on mattresses near the wreckage of a house hit by an Israeli air strike in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

The three men -- all members of the hardline Islamic Jihad faction -- were killed by tank fire near the village of Qarara, a Palestinian medic said.

Troops identified "hitting" three Palestinians who were "carrying large bags and acting in a suspicious manner" as they approached the security fence that separates Israel from Gaza near Kissufim, an army spokesman said.

Further north, five Palestinians were wounded and another five detained after Israeli tanks and troops moved across the border into a territory which the military had abandoned last September after a 38-year presence.

At least 184 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier have died in Gaza since Israel launched its offensive on June 28, but the violence has been largely overshadowed by the deadlier conflict in Lebanon.