The National Resistance and Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wings of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Hamas, said combatants clashed with Israeli forces entering Gaza east of Rafah at dawn on Friday.

A statement issued by the NRB was followed by a statement from Al-Qassam, both claiming to have clashed with Israeli forces east of Rafah city near the Kerem Shalom crossing in the southern Gaza Strip.

According to the NRB, Israeli troops opened fire against members of the brigade and clashes ensued. The Al-Qassam statement did not clarify which party initiated the clashes, but said militiamen fired mortar rounds at invading Israeli forces.

The National Resistance Brigades said they will continue to oppose Israeli forces and defend their lands and rights, in response to Israel's decision to include two holy sites in the occupied West Bank on a list of Israeli heritage sites, the statement read.

An Israeli military spokesman confirmed shots fired, saying that "Overnight, IDF soldiers identified a number of suspicious figures walking in close proximity of the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip."

He added that "forces fired warning shots and identified hitting one suspect. No injuries or damage was caused to IDF forces."

Neither the NRB nor Al-Qassam reported injuries.

Source: Maan News Agency