Clashes broke out on Israel’s border with Gaza late on Thursday as the Israeli army was conducting what it said was a defensive operation against a recently discovered concrete-lined, mile-long tunnel from Gaza into Israel. <br /><br />The Israeli military said militants planned to use the tunnel to attack or kidnap Israelis. <br /><br />In 2006, Hamas-allied militants sneaked into Israel through one such tunnel, killed two Israeli soldiers and kidnapped a third, holding him hostage in Gaza for five years.<br /><br />At least three Palestinian militants were killed Thursday’s violence, the enclaves Hamas rulers said.<br /><br />Hamas said the Israeli tanks had entered the Gaza side of the border. Clashes erupted as militants fired mortar shells at the tanks. Hamas added that an Israeli helicopter fired a rocket in the area.<br /><br />An Israeli military spokeswoman said forces were carrying out “a pinpoint action” in the area of the tunnel in the Gaza Strip but did not have further details.<br /><br />The Israeli army had no immediate comment on its own casualties, however Israeli television showed injured Israeli soldiers in hospital.
