Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian in the Gaza Strip Thursday in the first such incident since a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian political groups took effect some three weeks ago, reported the DPA. Palestinian medical sources and the Israeli army confirmed the incident near the Kissufim border crossing. An Israeli army spokesman said the man had failed to heed warnings from Israeli soldiers when he crossed into Israel from the Gaza Strip. Soldiers opened fire and killed him. No weapons were found near the body, the spokesman said. Mu'awia Hassanein, the emergencies director at the Health Ministry in Gaza, cited the Israeli army as saying the victim, in his 20s, had been killed at the Kissufim border crossing east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. "We are coordinating with the Israeli side to evacuate the body to hospital," he said. The Egyptian-brokered ceasefire took effect on June 19. The Islamic Hamas movement, which controls the Gaza Strip, has since accused Israel of violating the agreement.
