Israeli forces kill eight Gaza gunmen

Israeli troops killed eight Palestinian gunmen in clashes in the Gaza Strip yesterday, including seven from the militant group Hamas, amid a surge in violence in the coastal territory.

In the past three days, 21 Palestinians have been killed in fighting in Gaza, the majority of them militants. Around two dozen people have also been wounded. There have been no reports of any Israeli military deaths or injuries.

Since Israel stepped up its offensive in Gaza in June, following the kidnapping of one of its soldiers by militants, at least 250 Palestinians have been killed, around half civilians.

Israel says the offensive is designed to track down the kidnapped soldier and to stop militants firing home-made rockets into Israel. Rocket attacks have increased in recent days.

The latest gunman killed was from the Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a wing of President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement. His car was struck by a missile in an Israeli air strike, emergency workers said. Another gunman in the car was critically wounded and two passers-by were also hurt.

Four of the Hamas militants killed yesterday died when a house they were hiding in was hit by a series of Israeli missiles, security sources said. A fifth later died of his wounds. Three others were killed in separate raids.

The Israeli military confirmed it had carried out the attacks, including the air strike.

A column of Israeli tanks backed by attack helicopters moved into an area east of the town of Jabalya, outside Gaza City, overnight, part of what Israel has dubbed operation "Rain Man".

Israel says the operation will end today but that the timing "will be determined according to security assessments".