Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement said Sunday that it has captured two Israeli soldiers during fighting in the Gaza Strip earlier in the day, reported Hamas controlled Al-Aqsa TV.

However, a Israel Defense Force (IDF) spokeswoman said they won 't make any comment on it at this moment, as Xinhua journalist called her for confirmation.

According to a statement IDF sent to press this morning, IDF said about 30 Israeli soldiers were wounded during the overnight ground attack of Gaza, adding that among them an IDF officer and an IDF soldier were severely wounded during the night.

Israeli troops entered the Gaza Strip on Saturday evening, launching ground invasion against the coastal enclave.

Israel's ground operation started following eight days of intensive air strikes on the 1.5 million population of the enclave, targeting buildings, including mosques, houses and Hamas security installations.

(Xinhua News Agency January 4, 2009)