A Palestinian militant was killed Monday afternoon and his faction said an Israeli shelling caused his death in northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahiya.

Ali Ghaben, 20, was killed when Israeli tanks fired shells at a group of militants who were monitoring the border between northern Gaza and Israel, said Abu Mujahed, spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committee (PRC), a Gaza-based faction.

Another fighter was injured in the shelling, the spokesman added.

The incident happened as witnesses said that several Israeli tanks rolled for 200 meters into Palestinian-controlled areas in Beit Lahiya.

Hamas, which controls Gaza, preserves a fragile ceasefire with Israel. However, the border area in the Gaza Strip always sees tension and clashes between Israeli forces and smaller Palestinian groups.

(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2010)