Three Palestinians killed in Gaza

The army says the men were found near a road to Gush Katif settlement

The Israeli army has shot dead three Palestinians thought to have been preparing an ambush near a Jewish settler road, military sources said.

Troops opened fire on a group of men who tried to get away in a waiting car, killing the three. The army is still hunting two more who escaped.

A nine-year-old boy was allegedly killed in a separate incident in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources said.

But the Israeli army says there was no shooting in the area at the time.

Palestinian sources including hospital staff said Israeli soldiers in a watchtower opened fire on targets in the camp, killing the boy.

Rafah hospital director Ali Mussa told the AFP news agency that the boy, who he named as Hani Selim al-Rabayah, died shortly after arriving at hospital at around 1700 local time (1500GMT).

Israel said the matter would be further investigated.

Family claim

In the other incident, the Israeli army says two armed men were spotted among a group of Palestinians near the Kissufim road, which leads to the Gush Katif settlements near the south-western coastline of the Gaza Strip.

They tried to escape in a car, but Israeli soldiers opened fire, say military sources, killing both men and the driver.

Sources said troops were continuing to search the area for other armed men.

However, AFP reports that a relative of the three men says they were driving home.

Palestinian sources say they have been told to come and collect the bodies.