Palestinian shot as Israeli forces enter north Gaza

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces shot a Palestinian in northern Gaza Thursday, following earlier reports that Israeli patrols and bulldozers entered the area.

Taha Shedeh Taha, 18, was admitted to Kamal Edwan Hospital with gun shot wounds to his leg, medics said. An Israeli military spokeswoman confirmed that soldiers shot a Palestinian close to the border fence.

She said forces saw a group of people close to the border and fired warning shots, adding that the group continued to approach the fence and soldiers opened fire, injuring one Palestinian. The spokeswoman noted that Israel considers the area a combat zone.

Earlier on Thursday, locals said Israeli patrols and bulldozers entered Beit Hanoun and opened fire on farmers. The soldiers entered through the Erez crossing, witnesses said, speculating that forces were in the area to rebuild the border fence which locals destroyed weeks earlier.

An Israeli military spokeswoman could not confirm the report.