Israeli army helicopters fired at Palestinian militants in the northern Gaza Strip, killing one. An army spokesman told The New York Times that the militants were trying to plant an explosive device near the Israeli-Gaza border fence east of Jabaliya. The strike early Saturday morning was the third by Israel in Gaza in 10 days; a cease-fire had been declared in November.The army spokesman emphasized that the army “did not initiate” the action but was responding to Palestinian activity. The Palestinian killed, a 22-year-old man, apparently had joined up with Islamic Jihad, which rejects the cease-fire, to carry out an operation.Also early Saturday, Israeli troops shot a local leader of the Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades during a clash with armed men in Jenin in the northern West Bank. Zacharia Zubeidi has been on Israel’s “most wanted” list for years. The Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades are affiliated with the mainstream Fatah organization.
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