Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian man trying to infiltrate a Jewish settlement in the southern Gaza Strip and killed a Palestinian policeman in northern Gaza early on Saturday. An Army spokeswoman said the alleged infiltrator may have been on a suicide mission but there was no immediate confirmation he was carrying explosives.

"The terrorist cut the fence and was trying to penetrate the area (at the Gush Katif settlement bloc)," the army said in a statement. "The force fired at the terrorist and killed him...He was wearing a vest and probably an explosive belt."
Palestinians witnesses identified the man as 17-year-old Bilal Hassuna.
In northern Gaza, Palestinian officials said Ahmed al Bassuni, 28, died and four other Palestinian policemen were wounded in the latest round of violence that has largely derailed a U.S. peace mission led by envoy Anthony Zinni. Bureau Report