Troops destroy militant’s home

ISRAELI forces razed the home of a Palestinian militant in the Gaza Strip yesterday and his stepmother was crushed to death inside after apparently not hearing warnings to leave, Palestinian security officials said.

In the West Bank, troops killed a Palestinian policeman in a raid on his base in Qalqilya. Witnesses said the man was shot as he and others fled. According to Israeli military sources, he had refused orders to halt.

The overnight violence occurred hours after Palestinian security officials in Gaza said they were trying to rein in militants to forestall often devastating Israeli strikes.