Thousands of Palestinian residents of the northern Gaza Strip fled their homes and sought safety in United Nations shelters.

The United Nations has cancelled a planned marathon in Gaza after the Palestinian territory’s Hamas rulers banned women from participating.It was a new attempt by the Islamic militant group to impose its ideology inside the crowded coastal strip.

Palestinian militants on an explosives-packed boat blew themselves up when intercepted by an Israeli navy patrol off the Gaza Strip today, wounding four Israeli soldiers, the army and Palestinians said.

A Briton was shot and killed today during a gun battle between Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen in the West Bank refugee camp of Jenin.