Jerusalem, July 9 (IANS): Israeli forces killed 14 Palestinians, including four militants, and injured 40 others Tuesday following a massive military operation launched to prevent rocket attacks aimed at Israel from the Gaza Strip.
According to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), four Palestinian militants, armed with grenades and trying to cross into southern Israel from the sea, were killed late Tuesday.
"Earlier this evening, the IDF succeeded in preventing an attempted terrorist attack as several gunmen armed with grenades attempted to infiltrate a military base in southern Israel," reported Xinhua citing an IDF statement.
"The terrorists approached from the coast. Infantry forces were immediately called to the scene, and with the assistance of IAF (Israel Air Force) aircraft and Israeli Navy made contact with the terrorists, killing four of the perpetrators."
Earlier, Israeli media said three Gaza militants were killed in the incident, which took place about 1.5 kilometre north of the Gaza Strip.
Israel early Tuesday launched "Operation Protective Edge", a military operation targeting the Hamas-controlled Gaza, with the stated goal of quelling the incessant rocket fire hitting southern Israel.
The Israeli military said its air force has struck more than 150 targets in Gaza, including homes of several Hamas leaders, since the massive aerial operation started.
Earlier in the day, at least 10 Palestinians, including four civilians, were killed and 40 injured at the start of the military operation.
Five militants of the radical Islamic Jihad group were killed in an Israeli air strike against their car, said Gaza Strip emergencies' spokesperson Ashraf al Qedra.
An alleged member of the Islamic movement Hamas died in a bombing on the town of Deir al Balah, while four civilians perished when their house was hit in an air attack on the southern town of Khan Younis, he added.
In a later statement, Israel announced that the attack began with aerial and naval artillery strikes against 50 targets of the Islamists in Gaza, including rocket launchers, tunnels, arsenals and training centres.
Tensions between the two sides have flared after a Palestinian teenager was bundled in a car in Jerusalem last week and found burned to death hours later in a revenge killing for the murders of the three Israeli students.
Israeli security forces have arrested six people in connection with the murder, one of whom Monday confessed and also confirmed the involvement of the other accused.