Israelis kill four today

Israeli troops killed a senior Islamic militant, two Palestinian gunmen and an unarmed schoolboy in clashes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip today.

Four Israeli soldiers were wounded, one seriously, in a gun battle outside the home of Hamza Abu Roub, 37, a leader of the militant Islamic Jihad.

The violence erupted a day after Palestinian Christians observed what some said was their dreariest Christmas ever.

Israeli tanks surrounded the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Jesus’ traditional birthplace. Rain pounded on streets that remained largely empty of tourists scared off by more than two years of fighting.

Early today, troops surrounded the home of Abu Roub, a leader of Islamic Jihad’s military wing in the northern West Bank, in the town of Kabatiya, and demanded that he surrender.

Abu Roub sent out his wife and children, said a neighbour. The fugitive then appeared near the wall of his house and began shooting, drawing heavy return fire. Bursts of gunfire and the sounds of explosions echoed through the town, residents said.

Four soldiers were wounded and troops blew up Abu Roub’s home.

Abu Roub was not in hiding even though he was a fugitive. Wanted Palestinian have found it increasingly difficult in recent weeks to find refuge in homes of supporters because troops have been demolishing homes of those who hide wanted militants.

In the West Bank town of Nablus, Israeli soldiers searching for wanted men killed a Palestinian gunman during a gun battle today. An Israeli soldier was lightly wounded.

A curfew was then reimposed on the town and hundreds of Palestinians threw stones at soldiers who opened fire, killing a Palestinian teenager, witnesses said.

The teenager, who witnesses said was carrying books and was not involved in stone-throwing, was killed by a shot in the stomach, hospital sources said.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli soldiers killed an armed Palestinian as he ran toward an army post guarding a Jewish settlement.