Israeli troops kill Palestinian in Gaza

Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian man today while Hamas militants fired a home-made rocket at an Israeli town in retaliation for a missile strike that killed a top Hamas commander, witnesses said.

Troops opened fire on a group of Palestinians approaching a rocket launcher today in the Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, the army said. Doctors said two farmers were wounded.

In a separate incident, troops shot dead a 21-year-old man who was standing near a group of children throwing rocks at soldiers, doctors said. Army officials did not immediately comment.

Israeli tanks took up positions in the northern Gaza Strip to guard against more of the Qassam rocket attacks.

Today’s rocket attack on the Israeli town of Sderot caused no injuries but came a day after a missile fired by an Israeli aircraft blew up a car in Gaza City, killing a top Hamas commander and six other people.