Israel Kills 4 Palestinians, Including University Professor

The family of Yasser Abu Leimun, 32, said was killed in Talluza, north of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

His wife said Abu Leimun was a university professor and not known for his political affiliations.

She added he was outside his house when a stray Israeli bullet killed him, asserting that Israeli troops prevented an ambulance from evacuating him to a nearby hospital.

An Israeli army spokeswoman claimed he was part of a group of four "wanted" fighters and a member of Hamas.

"Forces conducted an operation to arrest four wanted militants. When they opened fire at us, we returned fire and one of them was killed," she alleged.

More Killed

Earlier Friday, Israeli troops killed three members of Fatah movement in Qalqiliya in the north of the West Bank, Palestinian medical sources said.

The three were shot by a "special unit" disguised as Palestinians who arrived in an unmarked car, Palestinian security sources said.

A fourth Palestinian, Atef Shaaban, head of the Fatah military arm, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, was seriously wounded by the Israeli unit.

The Israeli military spokesman confirmed the killings.

The latest death brings the overall toll since the September 2000 start of the Palestinian Intifadah against occupation, to 3,937, including 2,968 Palestinians and 899 Israelis.

Four Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers in West Bank and Gaza Strip early on Thursday, April 22, one day after the occupation forces gunned down nine Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Two Girls Killed

The Friday attacks came as residents of the northern Gaza Strip city of Beit Lahia paid last respects to two girls killed by Israeli forces Thursday.

A four-year-old girl died of tear-gas inhalation, Mahmoud al-Assali, the director of Jabalya hospital in Gaza, told the Reuters news agency.

"Her skin had turned blue as a result of her inability to breathe and she soon died," he said.

An 11-year-old girl, Mona Abu Tabak, was also killed by Israeli fire, Palestinian medical sources said.

This came hours after a 16-year-old boy was also killed during a third day of sweep into Beit Lahia.

Israel came under fire for shooting dead Palestinian children unprovoked on the pretext of throwing stones on armed-to-the-teeth occupation soldiers.

On Sunday, March 7, a 7-year-old boy was killed in cold blood by an Israeli bullet in the neck during a raid in Gaza Strip.

Another boy was killed in his school courtyard in southern Gaza strip during an Israeli raid early on Thursday, March 4.

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