Israelis kill 'spy' at Gaza security fence

Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian man and injured another today after the pair crossed into a restricted area around the fence that isolated Gaza.

The men approached the fence from the Gaza side near Nahal Oz, entering the 150 yard wide restricted zone, before troops opened fire, the army said.

One man was killed and the other injured. The men had no weapons, but were carrying mobile phones, maps of the area and intelligence about army patrols there, the military said.

They were apparently collecting information for a future attack, the army said.

The dead man’s family identified him as Mohammed Awad, 26, a supporter of the Islamic Jihad militant group.

The army said militants often planned attacks in the area and three soldiers where injured during an attack there last month.

Israeli officials said they were considering slightly easing month-old closures that have kept millions of Palestinians out of Israel and confined many to their West Bank communities.

The army has expressed concern that continuing restrictions on Palestinians are fostering hatred of Israel, strengthening militant groups and creating the kind of atmosphere that leads to more attacks.

The army is trying to persuade the government to lift the closures placed on Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip before the Jewish New Year holiday last month because of increased concerns about attacks.

The closure has stopped nearly three million Palestinians from travelling to Israel and leaving their communities.

The restrictions have also kept many Palestinian farmers from their fields, badly damaging the annual olive harvest.