GAZA, Dec 15: Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian man trying to infiltrate a Jewish settlement in the southern Gaza Strip and killed a Palestinian policeman in northern Gaza early on Saturday.

An army spokeswoman said the alleged infiltrator may have been on a suicide mission but there was no immediate confirmation he was carrying explosives.

“The terrorist cut the fence and was trying to penetrate the area (at the Gush Katif settlement bloc),” the army said in a statement. “The force fired at the terrorist and killed him...He was wearing a vest and probably an explosive belt.”

Palestinians witnesses identified the man as 17-year-old Bilal Hassuna.

In northern Gaza, Palestinian officials said Ahmed al Bassuni, 28, died and four other Palestinian policemen were wounded in the latest round of violence that has largely derailed a US peace mission led by envoy Anthony Zinni.

A Palestinian public security spokesman said the policemen were riding in a jeep in the Palestinian-ruled town of Beit Hanoun to prevent Palestinian militants from continuing mortar fire when they came under Israeli fire early on Saturday.

The army said it had returned fire in response to shooting from the area. Palestinian officials said that shortly after the attack on the jeep, more than 20 tanks rolled into the centre of the town and took up position as soldiers with loudspeakers ordered residents to stay in their homes.

The officials said the troops demolished three Palestinian security positions in the town and arrested at least three militants from the Hamas group that has been behind attacks that have killed scores of Israelis.

Palestinian hospital officials said at least 30 people were wounded by Israeli tank shells and gunfire as a battle raged between Palestinian gunmen and Israelis in the town.—Reuters