At least four Palestinians were reported killed and 15 were wounded by Israel Defense Forces gunfire in the northern Gaza Strip during an IDF operation begun around midnight Tuesday that is aimed at preventing the firing of Qassam rockets at Israeli targets.

In addition, two IDF soldiers from the Shimshon Battalion were lightly wounded in a mortar attack aimed at the Gaza Strip settlement of Netzarim early Wednesday. The wounded soldiers were treated at Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva. A Qassam rocket crashed into hothouses belonging to the Ganei Tal settlement in Gush Katif mid-afternoon, lightly wounding a female Palestinian employee.