Palestinians killed in clashes and car ramming attack

Three Palestinians have died and a dozen were wounded in violence in the Occupied Territories, with two being killed by Israeli gunfire in the West Bank and another man shot dead in Gaza.

Sami Maadi, 41, was shot dead in clashes with Israeli forces east of Al-Bureih on the border with the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian health ministry said on Friday afternoon. Twelve other Palestinians were wounded.

Two other Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire in separate incidents near the West Bank city of Hebron.

Oudi Jihad Arsheed, 22, was shot dead during protests, the Palestinian health ministry said.

Arsheed's 17-year-old sister was killed two months ago during similar clashes, sources in Hebron said.

"A violent riot is taking place in Hebron. Hundreds of Palestinians are attacking forces, hurling rocks and rolling burning tyres at them," an army spokeswoman told AFP.

"In order to disperse the crowd, (forces fired) 0.22 calibre rounds towards the main instigators and warning shots into the air."

In the third incident, a 57-year-old Palestinian man was shot dead as he tried to drive his car into a military checkpoint in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli army said.

"A Palestinian attempted to ram his vehicle into security forces near Hebron," an army statement said.

Palestinian security sources identified the driver as Issa Haroub from Dir Samat village west of Hebron.

Since 1 October, almost daily attacks and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers have killed 116 on the Palestinian side, 17 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean.

More than half of the Palestinians killed have been alleged attackers.