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GAZA, June 9 (Reuters) - Palestinian militants attacked a border crossing between central Gaza and Israel on Saturday, sparking a fierce gun battle, local residents and militants said.

Several militants tried to enter the crossing at Kissufim after approaching in their vehicle.

Israeli tanks and troops fired at the militants, who attacked the crossing with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic gun fire, local residents said.

It was not immediately clear whether any one was injured in the attack.

"There are exchanges of fire in the area of Kissufim. We don't have further details," an Israeli army spokesman said.

Two militant groups carried out the attack, Islamic Jihad and a unit of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an offshoot of President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction, Palestinian sources said.

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