Israeli forces killed three Palestinian militants who tried to cross into Israel from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, Hamas and Palestinian medical workers said.
The clash began when Palestinian gunmen, under cover of early morning fog, fired at an Israeli patrol near Karni crossing on the Israeli side of the border fence, residents and Hamas said.
Medical workers initially reported four gunmen killed.
A Hamas radio station said at least 10 Palestinian militants, some on horseback, were involved in the attack, the largest since Israel ended a three-week offensive in the Gaza Strip on January 18.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said soldiers opened fire after being shot at by gunmen trying to cross into Israel. No Israelis were wounded in the attack, the spokeswoman said.
"As long as the border crossings are not secure there is no point in even raising the question of their opening," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor.
"Hamas is, by it's actions and by it's inaction causing the plights of the residents of Gaza, and this is something the Palestinians must know," he said."Those martyrs and this blood will not break the will of the Palestinian people," said Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas's leader in the Gaza Strip.
The clash began when Palestinian gunmen, under cover of early morning fog, fired at an Israeli patrol near Karni crossing on the Israeli side of the border fence, residents and Hamas said.
Medical workers initially reported four gunmen killed.
A Hamas radio station said at least 10 Palestinian militants, some on horseback, were involved in the attack, the largest since Israel ended a three-week offensive in the Gaza Strip on January 18.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said soldiers opened fire after being shot at by gunmen trying to cross into Israel. No Israelis were wounded in the attack, the spokeswoman said.
"As long as the border crossings are not secure there is no point in even raising the question of their opening," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor.
"Hamas is, by it's actions and by it's inaction causing the plights of the residents of Gaza, and this is something the Palestinians must know," he said."Those martyrs and this blood will not break the will of the Palestinian people," said Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas's leader in the Gaza Strip.
Israel tightened its blockade of the Gaza Strip after Hamas Islamists seized the territory in 2007.
Residents said the Palestinian militants fired anti-tank weapons and set off explosives. The body of a horse killed in the battle lay beside one of the dead gunmen.
Residents said the Palestinian militants fired anti-tank weapons and set off explosives. The body of a horse killed in the battle lay beside one of the dead gunmen.
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