Israeli and Palestinian die in West Bank

Israeli troops today flattened a West Bank apartment building, killing a Palestinian gunman who had taken shelter after attacking an army patrol.

One Israeli soldier was killed and five wounded last night in the ambush on a road between Hebron and the Jewish settlement of Kiryat Arba.

The gunman ran into the nearby apartment block after the shooting.

At dawn, residents were told to leave the building and soldiers fired a tank shell at it.

The Palestinian gunman returned fire as an armoured bulldozer moved in to demolish the structure, but his body was later found among the rubble.

Hebron has been the scene of frequent violence in recent months, especially since November 16 when 12 Israeli security forces were killed in an attack.

Since then, the Israeli army has taken over the Palestinian-controlled area of the city.

Also today, the army demolished a house belonging to a member of the militant group Hamas and razed an olive grove in the village of Karara in the Gaza Strip, Palestinians said.

The army, apparently referring to the same house, said troops found 110lbs of explosives in it.

Some trees had to be uprooted for armoured vehicles to enter the area, the army said.