Israel Defense Forces troops killed two armed Palestinians in the Gaza Strip over the weekend. An 11-year-old boy was also reportedly killed in clashes with Israeli troops in the West Bank city of Jenin.

Palestinian security sources said the boy, Ibrahim Jalameh, was shot dead by troops yesterday as he threw stones at them.

Israeli military sources told Reuters news agency that soldiers fired at an armed man inside a stone-throwing crowd who had fired shots at them. "The connection between this event and the report of the boy´s death is being checked and investigated," the sources said.

Late Thursday night, a Palestinian man was spotted some 300 meters southeast of the Gaza settlement of Netzarim. A tank fired at the man, who was crawling toward the settlement, killing him. On Friday morning, soldiers on patrol discovered a Kalashnikov rifle, magazines, an ax, and hand grenades on the body.

In addition, a Palestinian Hamas activist was killed by tank fire on Friday night as he approached the security fence around the northern part of the Gaza Strip. A Kalashnikov rifle and ammunition was found on his body. He also apparently managed to plant a 20-kilogram bomb near the fence, which he apparently planned to set off next to IDF troops.

Also over the weekend, a number of mortar shells and anti-tank missiles were fired at the settlements of Kfar Darom, Gadid and Neve Dekalim in the Gaza Strip. No injuries were reported.

In the Rafah area, close to the border with Egypt, a bomb was set off. No one was injured.

The last week saw a significant increase in the number of mortar, Qassam and anti-tank missiles launched at Gaza-area settlements.

IDF troops arrested 13 wanted militants in the West Bank over the last week. (© Copyright 2003 Haaretz. 11/23/03)