Human shield left brain-dead in shooting

A HUMAN shield was left brain-dead yesterday after being shot in the head

The 24-year-old British man, a member of the International Solidarity Movement, was standing between Israeli troops and a group of Palestinian children when soldiers opened fire, said Khalil Abdullah, also a member of the Palestinian-backed peace group.

The man was declared brain-dead shortly after arriving at the hospital in Rafah, in the Gaza Strip, where the shooting occurred, said Dr Ali Musa.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army.

On March 16, American activist Rachel Corrie, aged 23, was killed while trying to stop an Israeli military bulldozer in the Gaza Strip.

She was the first member of the ISM group to be killed in 30 months of fighting between Israelis and Palestinians.

The group claimed the bulldozer ran over her and then backed up. The army denied the claim, saying the bulldozer operator did not see her.

Last week, Israeli troops in an armoured personnel carrier allegedly shot American Bryan Avery, aged 24, in the face.

He had been working in the West Bank city of Jenin. The army said it was firing at gunmen in the area and was not aware it hit Avery.

Activists in the group work in the West Bank and Gaza as human shields, often placing themselves between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

Meanwhile, Israeli helicopters fired missiles at a cemetery in the city of Khan Yunis yesterday, injuring one man, Palestinian sources said.

They claim an Israeli patrol also opened fire at a crowd that had gathered nearby wounding two others.

Security sources said they were searching vaults in the cemetery for militants or weapons hidden inside.

Another missile landed unexploded by the house of Mohammad as-Sinwar, a member of the military wing of the hardline Islamic group Hamas, sources said. The army refused to comment on the operation.