GAZA, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Five Palestinian militants were killed and four wounded on Thursday in an Israeli army ground forces incursion into central Gaza Strip, witnesses and medics said.

    The witnesses said that at least ten Israeli army tanks, armored vehicles and bulldozers rolled into an area east of al-Mughazi refugee camp in central Gaza amid intensive gunfire.

    They added that several Palestinian militants, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad (Holy War) clashed with the invading Israeli army force, where five militants were killed and four others wounded.

    Islamic Hamas sources said two of its militants were killed in an exchange of fire with Israeli soldiers who are still operating in the area.

    Earlier witnesses said three militants were killed at the beginning of the military operation in the area.

    They added that two of the dead are a members of the Islamic Jihad armed wing and the third is a member of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC).

    Mo'aweya Hassanein, chief of emergency in the Palestinian Ministry of Health said five Palestinians were killed and four wounded during the ongoing Israeli army ground operation in the area.

    He said one of the wounded is a cameraman of Reuters Television, adding that he was shot in the foot.

    Israeli Radio in Arabic quoted an Israeli army spokesman as saying that one Israeli soldier was injured during the operation, adding that the operation "is limited and part of the routine."

    The spokesman said the aim of the operation is a continuation of reining on Gaza militant groups, who keep launching homemade rockets and mortar shells at Israel.