Israeli troops shoot gunmen

Israeli troops stopped Palestinian militants infiltrating a Jewish settlement yesterday by shooting several gunmen spotted inside a greenhouse, an Army spokeswoman said.

Israeli military sources said at least one gunman was killed inside the isolated, fortified enclave of Netzarim in the Gaza Strip.

"We are still conducting searches. But the infiltration was stopped, it is over," said one source.

Israeli radio said in an unsourced report that three militants were shot dead by the Army unit.

The Army spokeswoman said the gunmen managed to slip into Netzarim around 5am local time and opened fire and threw a grenade at soldiers after being intercepted in the greenhouse.