Gaza City - Israeli grounds troops, which had withdrawn from Gaza City earlier Friday, advanced from their base at a former Jewish settlement south of the city into a populated area in the centre of the strip, local radio stations reported.

The troops pushed toward al-Zahara, a town in the centre of the strip, sparking heavy gunbattles with local militants, the radio said, quoting local witnesses.

They also reported heavy tank-shelling toward the nearby refugee camp of al-Bureij. (dpa)