Two Palestinians killed in Gaza Strip violence

Violence has continued in the southern Gaza Strip despite the latest ceasefire.

Two Palestinians, including a 16-year-old boy, were killed by Israeli fire in the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip.

Palestinian gunmen returned fire and in the exchange a 23-year-old Palestinian was killed and 11 others wounded, doctors say.

The gun battle took place when four Israeli tanks and a bulldozer advanced toward the Rafah camp, Palestinian security officials say.

The camp was shelled and hit by heavy machine gun fire, and the bulldozer began demolishing a house, the officials say. The Israeli army says it is checking the report.

Israel is due to ease military blockades that have severely disrupted daily life in the Palestinian areas under the ceasefire deal.

The day's violence began when Palestinians set off an explosion at an Israeli army post near the Rafah camp, on the Israeli-Egyptian border, wounding three soldiers.

The Islamic militant group Hamas claimed responsibility.

Later in the day, as Peres and Arafat met at Gaza International Airport just three miles away, Palestinian youths threw stones at soldiers in the damaged post.

Troops responded with fire, killing a 16-year-old boy and wounding 11 other youths, Palestinian witnesses and doctors say.