The Israeli army raided on Thursday morning the southern Gaza Strip town and refugee camp of Rafah, wounding at least 20 Palestinians, witnesses and Palestinian security sources reported.

They said the Israel troops backed by at least 50 tanks, bulldozers and Apache helicopter rolled into the refugee camp and the town of Rafah near the borderline with Egypt.

The witnesses said the aim of the raiding was apparently to demolish Palestinian houses near the borderline between the Gaza Strip and Israel. The area would be controlled by Israel after its expected pullout from the Gaza Strip.

Heavy armed confrontations erupted in the Palestinian-controlled area as Israel claimed the aim of the operation was to destroy tunnels used for smuggling weapons.

Dozens of Palestinian militants opened fire at the soldiers and the vehicles, using homemade bombs, anti-tanks missiles and roadside bombs.

Ali Musa, chief of emergency at Rafah Hospital, said that 20 Palestinians were injured, adding that four of them were seriously wounded and the rest of the injured were moderately wounded but admitted at the hospital.