Israeli troops kill two Palestinians in Gaza raid

GAZA, Nov 25 (Reuters) Israeli troops killed two Palestinian militants during a raid in the central Gaza Strip today, local medical workers said.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said troops had spotted two men wearing magazine belts, one of whom was armed. The soldiers opened fire at the pair when they came close to the troops.

Local residents said the two men were killed while the Israeli forces operated close to the Mghazi refugee camp in the central part of the Gaza Strip.

A spokesman for militants said one of the men was a member of the Islamic Jihad group and the other was aligned with the Popular Resistance Committees.

Israel has stepped up air strikes and military incursions since Islamist Hamas seized control of Gaza in June. Gunmen often lay ambush for roving Israeli commandos in frontier areas.

Reuters TB VP0745