Two Palestinians killed by Israeli troops: Medics

Two Palestinians were killed Monday by Israeli soldiers who came to destroy the home of another Palestinian at Qalandiya in the West Bank, Palestinian hospital officials said.

The Israeli army had reported that troops had "hit" three Palestinians in an exchange of fire that occurred during the demolition of the house of a Palestinian accused of killing an Israeli.

Mohammed Abu Shahin is accused of shooting dead Danny Gonen near the Dolev settlement in the West Bank on 19 June, in an attack that also wounded another Israeli.

During the operation to destroy the house at Qalandiya, hundreds of Palestinians threw stones and Molotov cocktails at Israeli security forces, the Israeli military said.

Violence since the start of October has killed 83 people on the Palestinian side and 12 Israelis.

The Israeli government has ordered an intensification of demolitions of homes of those accused of carrying out the attacks.

It argues that the policy acts as a deterrent, but critics say the main victims are relatives forced to pay for another person's actions – deeming the measures as amounting to collective punishment.