An Israeli army force backed by several tanks and armored vehicles stormed on Wednesday evening an area in northern Gaza Strip and razed Palestinian farms amid intensive shooting, witnesses said.

The witnesses in northern Gaza said the Israeli army ground forces advanced about 100 meters into the Palestinian-controlled area, as bulldozers razed a farm under the protection of helicopters.

The armed wing of the Popular Front to Liberate Palestine (PFLP)said in a leaflet sent to reporters that its members traded fire with Israeli soldier and fired several mortar shells at them. No injuries were reported.

The Israeli army carried out almost daily incursion into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, saying it acts to prevent militants from launching homemade rockets at southern Israel.

Meanwhile, in the West Bank, the security sources said the Israeli army forces arrested 20 Palestinians in different West Bank areas. Israeli radio confirmed the arrests, saying they are wanted to Israeli security intelligence.

The radio, which quoted an Israeli army spokesman, said the soldiers found a rifle in the house of one of the detainees.

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2009)