An Israeli helicopter fired at least one missile into a Palestinian refugee camp as armoured vehicles invaded an area in the southern Gaza Strip this morning, Palestinian sources said.
The invasion sparked a gun battle as Palestinians, roused by a message broadcast on mosque loudspeakers, fought the Israeli forces. Families in the area of Brazil fled for refuge, witnesses said.
A hospital source said one man was killed by shrapnel from a tank shell and one was injured with bullet wounds in his legs.
Up to 50 tanks and armored personnel carriers rolled into two districts of Palestinian-ruled Rafah and its Brazil camp near the border with Egypt. Israeli troops did house-to-house in searches.
Helicopters flew over the armoured forces as they made their way deep into residential areas, and at least one fired what security sources and witnesses said was a missile.
An Israeli army spokeswoman had no immediate comment.