Israel kills two Hamas militants in Gaza - doctors

GAZA, Oct 31 (Reuters) Israeli troops killed two Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip today during clashes between Palestinian gunmen and soldiers, Palestinian doctors said.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said an operation was taking place against militants in the area, near the town of Khan Younis, and that troops shot at a group of gunmen who tried to plant a bomb near soldiers.

Palestinian doctors said two Hamas militants were killed. Rescue workers said another seven Palestinians, including three militants, were wounded during the clashes.

The Israeli military is engaged in an offensive in the territory that it says is aimed at stopping Palestinian militants from launching rockets into the Jewish state.

Israel has killed more than 250 Palestinians, about half of them civilians, since it began a military assault in the Gaza Strip after militants from the territory carried out a cross-border raid and abducted a soldier in June.

Israeli naval vessels also fired at two Palestinian boats near the Gaza coast earlier in the day, wounding two fishermen and later detaining several people on board, Palestinian security sources said.

An Israeli military spokesman said troops on the vessels fired warning shots at the boats after they crossed into a restricted zone, then arrested four Palestinian suspects. He estimated they would be freed soon.

REUTERS AKJ BS1431