An Israeli soldier was killed during an army operation in the Gaza Strip.
St.-Sgt. Maj. (res.) Ehud Efrati, 34, of the Paratroopers reconnaissance unit, was killed in clashes late Sunday night with Palestinian gunmen near the Sufa Crossing in southern Gaza. A Palestinian gunman also was killed.
The Israeli army was trying to dismantle the Palestinian terrorist infrastructure near the security fence.
In another incident, an Israeli soldier was seriously wounded near the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun when Palestinians fired a rocket-propelled grenade at troops operating near the border fence. An Israeli helicopter fired missiles at the armed gunmen; the Palestinians reported that a Hamas operative and a civilian were killed.
