10 Palestinian Militants Killed in Gaza

Israeli armored vehicles drive out of the northern Gaza Strip into Israel after finishing an operation, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007. Israeli leaders on Wednesday decided against a large-scale military response to repeated rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, but said they would consider cutting off electricity or other vital supplies to the impoverished area if the attacks persist, meeting participants said. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) (Ariel Schalit - AP)

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Israeli troops backed by tanks and bulldozers crossed into southern Gaza to strike at Palestinian militants on Thursday, killing 10, a day after Israeli leaders ruled out a large-scale offensive to stop daily rocket salvos from Gaza.

The battle began in the morning and continued for several hours near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.

Israel said troops inside Gaza on a "routine" mission opened fire at a group of militants who approached them, sparking an exchange of fire. Four militants were killed. Gaza's Hamas rulers said militants were targeted either by an Israeli tank shell or missile fire. Dr. Moaiya Hassanain of the Palestinian Health Ministry reported shrapnel wounds consistent with shell fire.

Later in the day, Palestinian militants said fighters in a tractor and jeep crashed through the fence on the Gaza-Israel border and attacked an Israeli army post.

The military said the militants were trying to attack a base but were repulsed. Israeli aircraft struck two cars in the area, the army said, apparently the ones that tried to attack the base. Six militants were killed in that encounter, both sides said.

An Israeli army commander, Col. Shlomi Dahan, said the heavily armed Palestinians intended to capture a soldier. Palestinians said Israeli forces withdrew from the Khan Younis area after nightfall.

The toll of 10 was the highest in a single day in Gaza since June 27, when 12 were killed in clashes with Israeli forces.

The fighting came as Quartet envoy Tony Blair met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The former British prime minister is on his first extended mission since assuming his new role for the Quartet _ the U.S., U.N., EU and Russia. Blair's spokesman would give no details of the meeting. Blair is scheduled to report to the Quartet at the end of the month.

Internal tensions resurfaced in Gaza on Thursday when Hamas charged its rival, Fatah, with trying to re-ignite violence. The Islamic Hamas overran Gaza in June, vanquishing security forces loyal to Fatah and President Mahmoud Abbas. Hundreds of Palestinians were killed in more than a year of infighting.

A Hamas official said Fatah activists confessed to planning to plant explosives during Friday prayers. Fatah officials denied that and charged Hamas with seeking a pretext to crack down on Fatah again.

At the same time, Fatah officials said they would defy a Hamas ban on public prayer on Friday. Recent Muslim prayer gatherings on Friday in Gaza have turned into anti-Hamas riots.

In a speech to party activists late Thursday in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert drew a link between Thursday's clash and daily rocket attacks by Palestinians from Gaza.