Palestinian medics say a Hamas militant and a policeman were killed in Israeli shelling of the northern Gaza Strip -- as Israel appears to be intensifying its attacks.
At least seven Palestinians, including several policemen, were wounded in the shelling.
Israel's military says it also carried out an airstrike in Gaza. And witnesses say at least one person was wounded when a car carrying a crew from the Arabic television network Al-Jazeera was caught in crossfire between Palestinian militants and Israeli tanks.
The incidents occurred as Israeli tanks pushed through northern Gaza to the site of the former Jewish settlement of Elei Sinai in an effort to halt Palestinian rocket attacks.
Hours earlier, Palestinian militants fired a second rocket at Israel's southern coastal city of Ashkelon. Israeli officials say no one was injured.
But news reports say several people were suffering from shock, including two children.
The armed wing of Hamas claimed responsibility for both rocket attacks into Ashkelon. Hamas controls the Palestinian government.
On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his security cabinet approved plans for troops to push farther into the Gaza Strip and create a buffer zone to prevent the rocket attacks.
Israeli troops stepped up operations against the Palestinians last month after militants kidnapped an Israeli soldier in a raid.
At least seven Palestinians, including several policemen, were wounded in the shelling.
Israel's military says it also carried out an airstrike in Gaza. And witnesses say at least one person was wounded when a car carrying a crew from the Arabic television network Al-Jazeera was caught in crossfire between Palestinian militants and Israeli tanks.
The incidents occurred as Israeli tanks pushed through northern Gaza to the site of the former Jewish settlement of Elei Sinai in an effort to halt Palestinian rocket attacks.
Hours earlier, Palestinian militants fired a second rocket at Israel's southern coastal city of Ashkelon. Israeli officials say no one was injured.
But news reports say several people were suffering from shock, including two children.
The armed wing of Hamas claimed responsibility for both rocket attacks into Ashkelon. Hamas controls the Palestinian government.
On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his security cabinet approved plans for troops to push farther into the Gaza Strip and create a buffer zone to prevent the rocket attacks.
Israeli troops stepped up operations against the Palestinians last month after militants kidnapped an Israeli soldier in a raid.