On 6 January , heavy fighting took place between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants on the outskirts of the northern district of Gaza City , while Israeli helicopter gunships pounded militant positions . The IDF reportedly widened its attacks to Khan Yunis in southern Gaza , after heavy fighting on the edges of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza . The Al Fakhura school was hit by Israeli mortar fire , and reports on deaths and if militants were among the casualties varied . The attack was originally reported as being on the school . In northern Gaza City , Palestinian gunmen ambushed an Israeli patrol , killing one soldier and wounding four . The patrol returned fire , hitting some of the gunmen , while in Jabalya , an Israeli tank fired a shell into an abandoned building as Golani Brigade soldiers were taking cover in it , killing 3 soldiers and wounding 24 . The casualties were extracted under the cover of heavy artillery fire and helicopters dropping illumination bombs . In a separate friendly fire incident , an Israeli officer was killed by a misdirected artillery shell . In all , at least 70 Palestinians and 5 Israelis were killed on 6 January
Al Fakhura school
Al-Fakhura school incident
Gaza War (2008–09)