Eight militants killed in clashes with Israeli troops

Israeli troops clashed with Hamas militants inside the Gaza Strip on today, killing eight in fierce fighting that drew in Israeli aircraft, tanks and bulldozers, and sent militants laying mines against troops.

It was the second-deadliest day of fighting between the two sides since the Islamic militant Hamas group wrested control of Gaza in mid-June. In all, more than 30 Palestinians – nearly all of them militants but including a 12-year-old boy – have been killed in at least five days of Israeli military operations in Gaza since the Hamas takeover.