Israeli army kills two Palestinians in Gaza Strip

Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian policeman and a 13-year-old boy in the Gaza Strip today and two Palestinians hit by Israeli…

Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian policeman and a 13-year-old boy in the Gaza Strip today and two Palestinians hit by Israeli gunfire in the West Bank this week died in hospital, Palestinian officials said.

The army also arrested dozens of people in a major sweep for militants across the West Bank, Palestinian witnesses said.

Palestinian security sources said Israeli troops entered the town of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza and fired at a police station, killing policeman Mr Khaled al-Khatib. Muain al-A'daini, 13, was shot dead as the troops withdrew, they said.

The army said it went into Deir al-Balah after gunmen fired on troops in the area, but did not confirm any deaths.

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"Rest in peace and we will pursue the fight," mourners shouted at the funeral of Khatib and A'daini as armed men in the crowd of hundreds fired in the air.

Hospital officials in Jenin said Mr Imad Abu Zahra, 35, a Palestinian freelance reporter, died in hospital after he was shot yesterday as the army reimposed a curfew without warning.

A Palestinian press photographer was also wounded but survived. An army spokesman said the men were shot after two of its armored vehicles were disabled in a collision with an electricity pole, drawing a crowd of angry, armed Palestinians.