Five Palestinians killed in refugee camp raid

ISRAELI forces backed by tanks and helicopters killed at least five Palestinians in the Rafah refugee camp in the Gaza Strip yesterday.

One Israeli soldier was killed in the assault, which was one of the largest operations in 30 months of fighting. It began late on Saturday and ended yesterday.

The army destroyed two tunnels used for smuggling weapons under the Gaza-Egypt border and blew up the house of Mahmoud Abu Shamala, a leader in the militant Hamas group, the military said.