Three Palestinians killed by Israelis in Gaza Strip

GAZA CITY: Three Palestinians were shot and killed by Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, medical and security sources said.

They said one of the Palestinians was killed at the Kissufim border crossing in the central Gaza Strip. The victim's identity was not immediately known.

The Israeli army confirmed the incident.

"A unit noticed a suspect near the security barrier at the Kissufim crossing point between Israel and the Gaza Strip, and opened fire in his direction. He was hit," a spokesman said.

Earlier on Saturday, two Palestinians were shot and killed at Beit Hanun during an Israeli incursion into the north of the Gaza Strip, medical and security sources said.

The victims were named as Mohammed Abu Oda, 60, and his son Ismail, 28.

A military source confirmed to AFP that an "operation is underway in Beit Hanun" and added that "the two Palestinians killed in Beit Hanun were armed and had opened fire on Israeli soldiers."

According to witnesses and security sources, Israeli special forces backed by tanks and helicopter gunships moved into Beit Hanun around 2 am and surrounded the home of a Palestinian militant.

Soldiers demanded over loudhailers that the militant give himself up and two men were captured by the Israeli army. Their affiliation was not immediately known.

At least seven Palestinians were wounded by sporadic exchanges of gunfire during the overnight operation, and the armed wing of Hamas claimed in a statement to have fired two anti-tank rockets.