Israeli soldiers have killed three Palestinians and wounded more than 100 others in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In an upsurge of violence which has put pressure on a truce between Israel and the Palestinians, soldiers shot dead a 14-year-old Palestinian boy during clashes at a border crossing into Israel, east of Gaza City.
Earlier, Israeli soldiers reportedly shot dead an 18-year-old Palestinian in Gaza and killed a 48-year-old Palestinian in the West Bank city of Hebron during clashes with stone throwers.
Israeli and Palestinian officials warned the ceasefire would collapse if there were no let up in the violence, which followed a reaffirmation on Wednesday of a truce plan by Israeli Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
Protests and rallies have taken place across the West Bank and Gaza today, following commemorative events yesterday to mark the first anniversary of the Palestinian intifada, or uprising. An estimated 602 Palestinians and 169 Israelis have died since the uprising began.
