The Israeli army killed four Palestinians, at least three of them gunmen today asit blockaded Palestinian inhabitants in the West Bank and GazaStrip during Israel's election day.
Three Palestinians were killed when an explosion levelled ahouse owned by an Islamic militant in Gaza. Palestinians saidthe house was hit by an Israeli helicopter missile. The Israeliarmy said the three were killed while making bombs.
Three Palestinian gunmen were shotdead in the northern West Bank city of Jenin during an exchangeof fire with Israeli troops and that a 17-year-old was killedwhile running to the aid of one of the gunmen.
The army said the teenager was also armed and took part inthe firefight with troops during an operation to seize militantsinvolved in a 28-month-old uprising for a Palestinian state.
A Palestinian photographer working for Agence France Pressewas shot in the leg during the incident.
Captain Sharon Feingold, an army spokeswoman, said thephotographer may have been hit by shrapnel from the gunfight."He was not targeted. We do not target journalists," she said.
As Israelis began voting in their general election, 3.6million Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip werebarred by Israel's military from travelling between Palestiniantowns and villages and entering Israel.