Israeli military raids kill three

Mourners at the funeral in Balata refugee camp on the West Bank

Two Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Gazan town of Rafah.

The Israeli army said six mortar bombs had been launched by militants in the the area.

There was no confirmation of the names of the dead, though relatives say both were civilians, one of them 15-years-old, the Reuters news agency reported.

Earlier today, it was confirmed that a Palestinian had been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank.

Palestinian officials say the man, who was shot in the Balata refugee camp near the town of Nablus, had been pardoned by Israel as part of an amnesty deal for former militants.

The Israeli military described him as a wanted terror operative who had been involved in attacks.

Israeli forces say he was shot on Monday when trying to escape. But a witness says he was killed in an ambush by plain clothes officers.

The 27 year old Mohammed Abu Dhara was a member of al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a militant group linked to the Fatah organisation of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, which has largely ceased violent operations.

'Undercover operation'

Most former members of the al-Aqsa Martys' Brigades are participating in amnesty programmes agreed with Israel through which they can be removed from Israel's wanted list by renouncing violence and completing a specified period of detention or probation.

For this reason, Palestinian officials say, Abu Dhara should not have been targeted and that Israel has breached the agreement.

However, the Israeli military said he had been involved in organising attacks, smuggling explosives and recruiting militants in recent years.

It did not comment on whether Abu Dhara had been part of an amnesty agreement.

Both sides give contradictory accounts of Abu Dhara's death. His driver, Naim Abdel Salam, says he was killed in an ambush by undercover Israeli forces who shot at him as he got into the car.

The Israeli military say he was shot in the legs when attempted to escape arrest, and later died of his injuries.

Abu Dhara's funeral was held in the Balata refugee camp today.