Israeli soldiers killed three Palestinians in separate clashes in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip today (Monday) and have demolished the homes of two Palestinian militants.
The army says it killed one Palestinian after he broke through a security fence separating Israel from the Gaza Strip and opened fire on soldiers. They say he was disguised as an Israeli soldier.
Another Palestinian was reportedly killed in the West Bank city of Nablus during a clash between soldiers and a crowd of Palestinians throwing stones and gasoline bombs at Israeli troops. A third Palestinian was shot dead after he crashed his car into a military jeep in the West Bank.
Earlier, Israeli forces demolished the homes of two Islamic Jihad militants who last Friday killed four Jewish seminary students in the West Bank settlement of Otniel. The two militants were later killed by Israeli troops.
Palestinians and human rights groups criticize Israel for regularly destroying the family homes of suspected Palestinian militants, saying it amounts to collective punishment. Israel says the demolitions are meant to serve as a deterrent against further attacks.