Israeli strikes kill two Palestinians in Gaza

GAZA, Aug 3 (Reuters) Israeli airstrikes killed two Palestinians and wounded three others in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestinian witnesses said early today.

The first airstrike killed one militant and wounded two others as gunmen confronted more than 50 Israeli tanks and armoured personnel carriers advancing near Rafah airport.

Islamic Jihad said the dead and wounded men were its members.

One of the wounded men was in a critical condition, witnesses said.

The group is dedicated to Israel's destruction and has killed scores of Israelis in suicide bombings.

The Israeli army confirme its forces were operating in southern Gaza and said the airstrike came after its troops were targeted with a rocket propelled grenade.

A second airstrike east of Rafah killed one Palestinian and wounded another, witnesses said. It was not immediately clear if they were militants or civilians.

Israel has killed at least 156 Palestinians, more than half of them civilians, in Gaza since it began an offensive to stop gunmen from firing rockets into Israel and to pressure militants to free a soldier that armed groups captured on June 25.

REUTERS VJ RK0605