Several Israeli tanks penetrated Gaza's border on Thursday morning, entering the Gaza City industrial zone where they demolished an unknown number of factories, all which had been closed since 2005.

The industrial zone, near the now-closed Karni crossing, is less than a kilometer away from the border, and was set up near the crossing to facilitate exports.

With the partial closure of the Karni crossing in 2007, leaving it to operate twice a week for the import of grains and construction materials, and the permanent total closure of the crossing on March 2, the industrial zone has lain dormant for the past four years.

Official sources in Gaza told Ma'an that sheds, and shelters formerly used by PA security forces before 2007, were also demolished during the incursion.

One official who preferred to remain anonymous said he was miffed by the move, saying the demolition had been carried out "despite the fact that this place is calm and there have been no operations by factions carried out from the zone."