Israel on alert as Palestinians rally

Thousands of Palestinians rallied in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and Israeli troops patrolled flashpoints today, the anniversary of what Palestinians call Al Naqba, or their displacement during Israel’s creation in 1948.

At the Karni crossing between Israel and Gaza, a Palestinian was killed and four were wounded when Israeli troops fired on a car, Palestinian police said.

In the Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, a Palestinian police station was razed by Israeli tank shells.

Near the Jewish settlement of Netzarim in Gaza, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated steel bullets to disperse dozens of Palestinian stone-throwers.

Thousands of Palestinians gathered for rallies in towns across the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

A three-minute siren was to ring out at noon, followed by a taped speech by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat broadcast to the crowds. Israel’s Arab citizens, led by Arab MPs, also planned to hold Al Naqba ceremonies.

The commemorations came at a time of intense Israeli-Palestinian fighting, and Israel braced for widespread clashes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, reinforcing troops at expected flashpoint.

Arafat left for Cairo this morning, drawing Israeli criticism that he was trying to avoid being blamed for possible violence.

Last night, Arafat had convened a meeting of his Gaza security chiefs to review the situation, with their West Bank counterparts participating by conference call, Palestinian officials said.

The commemorations came a day after five Palestinian policemen manning a West Bank checkpoint were killed by Israeli troops in what Arafat called an ‘‘assassination.’’

Israel said the soldiers came under fire first, but acknowledged that some of those killed may not have been involved in shooting.

The killings further stoked Palestinian anger that has built up during nearly eight months of fighting, said Hussein al Sheik, the head of Arafat’s Fatah movement in the West Bank.

‘‘We want to say in a loud voice that we are tired of living under occupation,’’ al Sheik said of the planned marches.