Israeli soldiers 'shoot child'

GAZA CITY - Israeli soldiers shot dead a 9-year-old girl outside her home in the Gaza town of Khan Younis yesterday, Palestinian security sources said.

Hanin Abu Suleiman was playing outside her home next to a cemetery lying between the Palestinian town and an adjacent Jewish settlement when she was shot in the head, Palestinian witnesses said.

Israeli military sources said troops had returned fire in the direction of the cemetery after gunmen shot at their outpost, but could not say if they had hit anyone.

The violence came a day after two Palestinian gunmen dressed in Army uniform shot dead four seminary students in the Jewish settlement of Otniel, near the West Bank city of Hebron. They were later shot and killed by Israeli soldiers. Islamic Jihad said the attack was to avenge Israel's killing of eight Palestinians last week.

- REUTERS

Herald feature: The Middle East