Israeli soldiers kill Hamas militant in West Bank

RAMALLAH, West Bank — Israeli undercover troops broke into a West Bank apartment building in a failed arrest raid Thursday, igniting a violent protest and signaling that Israeli-Palestinian security coordination may be in trouble, officials said.

Two Hamas militants were shot dead by Israeli troops on Friday during an operation in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, officials on both sides said.The men, who were members of Hamas' armed wing the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, were shot in the southeastern part of the city, known as H2, which is under Israeli military control.Palestinian security officials named them as Maamun Natsheh, a 24-year-old militant from Hebron, and Nashat Karni, 33, who was a local leader for the group in the northern West Bank.

A Palestinian was shot dead on Thursday in an exchange of fire with Israeli troops at an army post in the northern West Bank, security sources on both sides said."A Palestinian opened fire on a guard post. The soldiers returned fire and he was killed," an Israeli military spokeswoman told AFP.The shooting took place near the settlement of Mevo Dotan, some 10 kilometres (six miles) southwest of the town of Jenin.

A Palestinian was killed on Thursday in an exchange of fire with Israeli troops at an army post in the northern West Bank, security sources on both sides said."A Palestinian opened fire on a guard post. The soldiers returned fire and he was killed," an Israeli military spokeswoman told AFP.The shooting took place at a guard post near the settlement of Mevo Dotan, some 10 kilometres (six miles) southwest of the northern town of Jenin.

Four Palestinians were wounded by Israeli gunfire in northern Gaza on Thursday, including a 14-year-old boy who was shot in the head, Palestinian medical sources said.The Israeli military confirmed that soldiers opened fire on several people who entered a security zone along Gaza's northern border with Israel.A military spokesman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said soldiers began shooting after firing warning shots, but that he was aware only that two Palestinians were wounded, both being hit in their lower bodies.

A Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli troops early on Friday during an operation in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, an AFP correspondent and witnesses said.Local residents said the man had been shot dead during an army operation in the southeastern part of the city, known as H2, which is under Israeli military control.An AFP correspondent at the scene said he saw soldiers covering the body with plastic sheets.The army had no immediate comment on the incident, saying only that an operation was under way in the area.

A Palestinian man who died under disputed circumstances in Israeli custody was given a hero’s funeral Monday, as thousands thronged his gravesite and Palestinian police fired a 21-gun salute. Palestinian officials, citing an autopsy, said Arafat Jaradat was tortured during Israeli interrogation. Israeli officials said more tests are needed to determine the cause of death, and Israel’s public security minister said he would allow an international expert to review the autopsy results.

JERUSALEM — Palestinian militants launched several rockets into southern Israel, as Israeli aircraft struck targets in the Gaza Strip early Wednesday in the heaviest exchange of fire between the sides since they agreed to an internationally brokered cease-fire in November.