Gaza gunman shoots Israeli aide

Dichter is a controversial figure among Palestinians, correspondents say

A Palestinian gunman has shot and wounded an aide to the Israeli public security minister, Avi Dichter.

The aide, Matti Gil, and the minister were touring an observation post near the Gaza Strip. His injuries are not said to be serious.

The delegation included a number of Canadian Jews, on a fact-finding visit in Israeli communities close to Gaza.

Israeli troops immediately returned fire and tanks and bulldozers entered Gaza after the shooting.

A number of Palestinian militant groups have said they carried out the shooting.

BBC Jerusalem correspondent Jon Brain says Mr Dichter is a particularly controversial figure to many Palestinians, though it is not thought likely the gunman was aware of the minister's presence in the group which came under fire.

Mr Dichter was the head of Israel's domestic intelligence service 2002, when Israel bombed a Hamas commander's home, killing him, his bodyguard and 15 civilians.

Last year Mr Dichter cancelled a visit to Britain when the UK government said it was unable to grant him immunity from an application from a campaign group to have him arrested for war crimes.