Israeli bulldozers destroyed at least two buildings in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, despite U.S. concerns that a recent spate of house demolitions could fuel the conflict with the Palestinians. Palestinian witnesses said armored occupation army bulldozers knocked down three large houses in the Rafah refugee camp, near the Israeli-controlled border with Egypt.

They said soldiers threw smoke bombs and fired into the air to disperse a group of international protesters who tried to block the bulldozers' path. There were no reports of casualties.

The United States, Israel's guardian ally, on Friday joined a chorus of international criticism at Israel's policy of home demolitions, which have been denounced as "collective punishment" by Palestinians and human rights groups.

Tension has heightened recently following a spate of house demolitions by Israel and the killing on Thursday of an Israeli man by a Palestinian resistance group.

Five Israeli Occupation Soldiers Wounded in a Clash with Palestinians in Jenin

In the West Bank earlier in the day, five Israeli occupation soldiers were injured when Palestinian resistance men opened fire at them during an operation to arrest activists in the northern West Bank city of Jenin.

An occupation army spokeswoman said the soldiers were driving in a jeep through the streets of Jenin during a sweep for activists when they came under Palestinian fire.

The occupation forces claim to have returned fire and hit one of the so-called gunmen, the spokeswoman said. Palestinians had no information on a wounded gunman but said a bystander was lightly hurt in the exchange.

PHOTO CAPTION

Detained Palestinians sit on the ground at an Israeli checkpoint after allegedly breaking a curfew in the West Bank city of Hebron, January 4, 2003. Israel destroyed the West Bank home of a resistance activist leader on January 3 in a measure it said was intended to deter violence but that the United States said could fuel the conflict. REUTERS/Loay Abu