A Palestinian farmer was killed on Saturday when he was caught in the crossfire of a shootout between militants and Israeli soldiers in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, officials said. "Sami Abu Khussa, 40, died after being hit by a shell near the (Israeli) border east of the Al-Bureij (refugee) camp," a medical official told AFP.
The man's family said he was a farmer who had been caught in the middle of an exchange of fire between Israeli soldiers and militants in the area. Initial reports said a gunman had been killed.
An Israeli army spokeswoman confirmed there was an armed clash in the area. "The Palestinians opened fire against Israeli forces operating near the security barrier in central Gaza Strip," she said. "The soldiers responded. There were no injuries on the Israeli side."