Policeman and boy, 13, shot dead in Gaza

Nidal al-Mughrabi, Gaza, ISRAELI forces shot dead a Palestinian policeman and a 13-year-old boy in the Gaza Strip yesterday and two Palestinians hit by Israeli gunfire in the West Bank this week died in hospital, Palestinian officials said.

The army also arrested dozens of people in a major sweep for militants across the West Bank, Palestinian witnesses said. Palestinian security sources said Israeli troops entered the town of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza and fired at a police station, killing policeman Khaled al-Khatib.

Muain al-A'daini, 13, was shot dead as the troops withdrew, they said.