British aid worker killed in West Bank

The Israeli advance provoked clashes in the streets

A British man working with the United Nations has been shot dead in unclear circumstances in the West Bank town of Jenin during an Israeli military operation.

Iain Hook, 53, worked with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) at the Jenin refugee camp.

A Palestinian boy was also killed and an Irishwoman was wounded in separate incidents in Jenin refugee camp.

UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw called Mr Hook's death a "terrible event" and expressed his condolences to his family and friends.

"We will do everything possible to ensure that there is a full investigation," Mr Straw and the UK International Development Secretary, Clare Short, said in a joint statement.

Some reports speak of a gun battle as troops tried to seize an Islamic Jihad militant in the area.

Military sources say the army is investigating.

Crackdown

The Israeli military, which regards Jenin as a hotbed of militants, surrounded the camp overnight.

They also went into the town of Bethlehem in pursuit of militants after a suicide bombing in Jerusalem on Thursday which left 11 Israelis dead.

Click here for a map of the area

Mr Hook was working in his office, in a small UN compound of mobile caravans in the northern part of the camp, when he was killed.

He was involved in a project to rebuild homes which were destroyed during previous Israeli operations.

According to Israeli military sources, an ambulance and medical crew were sent in when they heard about the incident, but Mr Hook was already dead.

The bullets retrieved from Mr Hook's abdomen were of a type generally used by Israeli troops, the director of Jenin hospital said. Israeli officials say it is too early to establish the source of the shots.

A 12-year-old boy throwing stones was killed by Israeli fire in Jenin, eyewitnesses and hospital officials said.

In a separate incident, Caoimhe Butterly, a young Irishwoman active in a Palestinian solidarity group, told Irish radio she had been shot in the foot while trying to protect Palestinian children during the incursion.

click here to return to text