Israeli soldier dies

Palestinian gunmen fought battles with Israeli troops inside the Gaza Strip last night and Al Jazeera television reported one soldier had been killed.

It said the soldier died near Kissufim, a crossing point into central Gaza.

It gave no further details and the Israeli military had no immediate comment.

The armed wing of the governing Hamas movement and the Popular Resistance Committees said they carried out an ambush, killing an Israeli officer and wounding several other soldiers.