GAZA, February 23, 2011 (WAFA) – A Palestinian fighter died Wednesday evening of wounds sustained earlier in the day when Israeli tanks shelled a group of Palestinians near Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City, according to a statement by the Islamic Jihad.

It said that Adel Jundieh, 27, from Shajaiyeh neighborhood of Gaza City, died hours after he was critically wounded in the Israeli shelling.

Jundieh was one of a group of Islamic Jihad fighters who confronted Israeli military vehicles after their incursion into areas east of Gaza City. The fighters fired two mortar shells at the Israeli army vehicles, who responded by shelling the neighborhood.

Three fighters were injured in the Israeli shelling in addition to eight other civilians, including three children, according to medical sources. Two of the Islamic Jihad fighters were critically wounded with shrapnel wounds to the head and chest.

M.A.