Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian in the Gaza Strip near the border with Israel yesterday, the Palestinian health ministry said, the first such fatality since a 50-day war ended in August.
The Israeli military said it fired at two Palestinians who approached Israel’s security fence with the Hamas Islamist-dominated enclave, hitting one of them, after they ignored shouts to halt and warning shots.
The health ministry said Fadel Mohamed Halawa, 32, was killed in the incident, east of Jabalya refugee camp.
One of Halawa’s relatives said he had been searching for song birds, which nest in trees near the Israeli border and command high prices in Gaza markets.
Israel has long designated areas along its frontier with the Gaza Strip as “no-go” zones for Palestinians, citing concerns that militants could plant bombs or carry out surveillance of Israeli patrols.
Halawa’s daughter cries during his funeral in Gaza City yesterday.
