27 January,2009 05:15 PM IST | | Reuters
An Israeli soldier was reported killed close to the border with the Gaza Strip on Tuesday in what Palestinians said appeared to have been an attack by militants in breach of ceasefire declarations made over a week ago.
In the same area, a Palestinian was later killed by Israeli fire, local medics said. They said the man was a farmer.
The Israeli military, which maintains censorship on its casualties until next of kin are informed, said a bomb went off close to forces on the Israeli side of the border fence near the Kissufim crossing in the central Gaza Strip.
It declined to comment on casualties but Al Arabiya television said one soldier was killed and three were wounded.
ALSO READ
Bomb blasts in Nigeria's Borno kill 18, injure 48
Pakistan: Blast outside independent candidate's office in Balochistan kills 12
Five police officials killed, 22 people injured in blast near police van
Death toll climbs to 42, ArcelorMittal faces ownership transfer
Gaza hospital blast sparks regional unrest in Middle East, alarms US allies
It would be the first Israeli death since Israel ended its 22-day offensive in the coastal enclave on January 18.
It came on the eve of a first visit to the region by US President Barack Obama's new Middle East envoy George Mitchell. Obama has said Mitchell will pursue peace 'vigorously and consistently'.
Palestinians living near Kissufim crossing said they had seen a small group of gunmen, numbering two or three, moving toward the border fence early in the morning mist. They later heard explosions and gunfire shortly after 8 am (0600 GMT). They did not see gunmen return.
A Palestinian official in Gaza said Israeli officials told him that shipments of supplies through crossing points from Israel would be closed for the day.
