Six Palestinians were killed, including five Islamic Hamas militants and a Palestinian woman in clashes with Israeli soldiers early on Wednesday morning in central Gaza Strip, medics said.

Mo'aweya Hassanein, chief of emergency and ambulance services in the Palestinian health ministry, told reporters that six Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes and gun battles in central Gaza Strip.

Hamas sources said that Israeli soldiers and militants belong to Islamic Hamas movement traded fire on Tuesday night east of al- Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza Strip, which is ruled by the movement.

The sources said an Israeli army ground force backed by armored vehicles stormed into a Hamas-controlled area east of the central Gaza Strip refugee camp of al-Bureij.

Hamas movement's armed wing, el-Qassam Brigades, said in a leaflet sent to reporters that its militants fired at least ten mortar shells at an Israeli army force that entered into an area east of central Gaza Strip.

The group said in separate leaflets sent to reporters that its militants fired dozens of mortar shells and homemade Qassam rockets at Israeli army bases and Jewish communities closed to the Gaza Strip.

The Hamas armed wing said they will never keep quiet on an Israeli occupation violation and will confront any aggression.

It is the first armed confrontations between the Israeli army and Gaza militants since a truce, which was brokered by Egypt and came into effect in June 19, was reached between Gaza militants and Israel.

Resident in central Gaza Strip said that they heard sounds of explosions and exchange of gunfire and saw Israeli helicopters hovering over the area. They added that Israeli helicopters fired rockets at Hamas militants.

(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2008)