Two killed in Gaza raid

Two killed in Gaza raid

Violence has continued in Gaza and the West Bank

Two Palestinians have been shot dead by Israeli forces in a raid on a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian and Israeli security sources have said.

The deaths follow the killing of a Palestinian gunman by Israeli troops in the West Bank on Saturday and a separate incident in which an American peace activist was wounded in the face.

One of those killed in Gaza was said to be a member of the militant Islamic group Hamas who fired an anti-tank rocket at Israeli forces, while the other was a teenage boy who, according to Israeli military sources, had thrown a petrol bomb at troops.

At least 10 Palestinians were wounded in the raid in the Al-Mughazi refugee camp and several local residents were also arrested, Palestinian sources said.

Activist shot

The gunman killed on Saturday was firing on a Jewish settlement at Kiryat Arba near Hebron, the Israeli army said.

Avery remains in a critical condition

He was spotted by Israeli troops guarding the settlement as he attempted to enter.

He was chased onto the roof of a building in the settlement, where he fired at houses and the soldiers before being shot dead, said an Israeli military spokesman and local residents.

No Israelis were hurt in the incident.

In Jenin, also in the West Bank, eyewitnesses said Israeli forces wounded Brian Avery, 24, who broke the Israeli-imposed curfew.

"Although we were wearing vests identifying ourselves as internationals, the armoured vehicle fired its main gun at us," Tobia Karlsson, a colleague from the International Solidarity Movement to Protect the Palestinian People said.

"The bullets hit the ground only two or three metres away from us. I was showered with fragments, and I turned to see Brian lying down in a big pool of blood."

Mr Avery remains in a critical condition in intensive care.

'Road map' concerns

On Saturday, director general of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office Dov Weisglass said Israel will reject a US-backed "road map" to Palestinian statehood if it is asked to compromise on security issues.

"On this there will be no compromise even if, God forbid, the price is... getting up politely from the table and going home," he told Israel Radio.

US President George W Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair are to meet in Northern Ireland on Monday, with the Middle East peace process expected to be a key issue.