GAZA — A 17-year-old Palestinian was crushed to death by an IDF bulldozer in the central Gaza Strip on Thursday, Palestinians sources reported.

The youth was transferred to al-Aqsa hospital in the Strip, and hospital officials reported many signs of trampling on his body.

Palestinians reported that IDF choppers participated in the operation in which the youth was killed, and were firing at Palestinians gunmen.

Hamas sources said the operation was an attempt to abduct a senior member of the movement and that bulldozers remained in the area.

Sources also reported that at least seven Palestinians were arrested during the operation and that several were injured.

The IDF said in response to the report, “The incident is not known, but is being examined.”

Military sources added that IDF forces have been operation in the northern Gaza Strip in the past 24-hours, and that a number of incidents of fire clashes with gunmen broke out. The army said that in one of the incidents a gunman was injured.

IDF forces have been operating in Gaza over the past few weeks in a number of ways in an attempt to hit “terror activists” in the Strip.

Most of the activities were carried out with relatively small ground forces who would exit the Strip shortly after entering.

On Wednesday, ministers declared Gaza a hostile entity, and it was decided that economic sanctions would be imposed on the Strip, including decreasing supply of fuel and electricity.

Movement of people and goods will also be limited.

It was unanimously decided in the meeting that “Hamas is a terror organization that has taken over the Gaza Strip and turned it into a hostile entity. This organization is carrying out hostile activities against the State of Israel and its citizens.”