Israel kills two Hamas gunmen in Gaza

GAZA, July 22 (Reuters) Israeli troops shot and killed two Hamas gunmen in the northern Gaza Strip today as they approached the border fence with Israel.

Hamas, which seized control of the coastal territory last month, said it sent the gunmen to plant bombs near the fence targeting Israeli forces.

An Israeli army spokesman said troops opened fire at the two men as they approached the border fence. The spokesman said both men were seen carrying guns.

Israeli troops often shoot at Palestinians who approach the Gaza border with Israel to try to prevent armed infiltrations.

Israel also conducts raids in the area to try to prevent militants from launching rockets into Israel.

Hamas's violent takeover of Gaza has set the Jewish state on edge, stirring fears in Israel of a big increase in attacks from the Palestinian enclave.

On July 5, Israeli troops killed 11 Palestinians, including nine militants, during a raid into Gaza.

Israeli forces have made preparations to invade the narrow strip to stop a build-up by Hamas and may only have a limited opportunity to launch such an attack, a top army commander said last week.

But Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert seemed to rule out such an operation for now, saying: ''I do not think the way to handle (militants in Gaza) should be to go in with a large military force''.

REUTERS SG VV1309