Isreali army shoot dead Palestinian man in Gaza Strip

Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian farmer near the border in northern Gaza Strip on Sunday, the first fatality since an August ceasefire ended a 50-day war between Israel and Palestine.

The Palestinian health ministry identified the dead man as Fadel Mohammed Halawa, 32, saying the bullet had hit him in the back.

Qudra said the bullet appeared to have been fired from a nearby army watchtower at a man who was farming land near the border fence.

One of the victim’s relatives said he had been searching for songbirds, which nest in trees near the Israeli border and command high prices in Gaza markets.

The Israeli army said two Palestinians had approached the border fence near Jabaliya refugee camp and had ignored calls to halt, prompting troops to fire warning shots in the air.

"Once they didn't comply, they fired towards their lower extremities. There was one hit," a spokeswoman said.

The army did not confirm the man's death and had no comment on reports he was shot in back.

Israel has long designated areas near its frontier with the Gaza Strip as “no-go” zones for Palestinians, citing concerns that militants could plant bombs or carry out surveillance of Israeli patrols.

It was the first time a Palestinian from Gaza had been killed by Israeli fire since a seven-week war between Israel and Hamas militants ended with an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire on August 26.

Following the initial truce agreement, the sides were supposed to have resumed talks on some of the thornier outstanding issues within a month, but the deadline has been repeatedly delayed.

More than 2,100 Palestinians, most of them civilians, were killed during the Gaza war, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Israeli puts its death toll at 67 soldiers and six civilians, killed by rockets and attacks by Hamas and other militant groups.