Israelis target Gaza 'smugglers'

At least one Palestinian has been killed during an Israeli army raid on the southern Gaza Strip.

The incident occurred when soldiers arrested a suspected arms smuggler, Bassam Abu Libdeh, at Rafah refugee camp, close to the Egyptian border.

The Israeli army often enters Rafah to blow up tunnels used by Palestinians to smuggle weapons from Egypt into the Gaza Strip.

The densely-populated refugee camp is home to more than 90,000 people.

Mr Abu Libdeh's wife and children left his house when the soldiers arrived, but he and two other men stayed inside and a gun battle erupted, according to residents.

Tension

Some reports say it was one of the men who had stayed with Mr Abu Libdeh was killed in the exchange of fire.

Other reports suggest a 55-year-old Palestinian civilian died.

Israeli troops arrested Mr Abu Libdeh and destroyed his house, sources on both sides said.

Tension has increased in the area since the Israeli army began building a security barrier to protect its forces.