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Israel Army Says Troops Killed 4 Armed Palestinians on Gaza Border

Agence France-Presse

   JERUSALEM - The Israeli army said its troops fatally shot four heavily
   armed Palestinians on the Gaza border early Saturday, alleging one of
   them had crossed and thrown a grenade at soldiers.
   Separately, security forces said they had arrested two Palestinians
   suspected of killing an off-duty Israeli soldier in the occupied West
   Bank earlier this week.
   There have been frequent clashes along the Gaza border since the
   Palestinians began organizing regular mass protests there in March
   2018.But Saturday's exchange was unusual because of the weaponry the
   Israeli army said was involved on the Palestinian side.
   "The terrorists were equipped with AK-47 assault rifles, RPG grenade
   launchers and hand grenades," an army statement said.
   A spokeswoman said the army "opened fire after one of the terrorists
   scaled the barrier and hurled a grenade at the soldiers."
   No Israeli casualties were reported.

   'Uniforms'
   Army spokesman JonathanConricussaid the four Palestinians were all
   wearing "uniforms" -- without elaborating -- and were equipped with
   food and a medical kit as well as the rifles.
   A Hamas statement condemned Israel's killing of the four Palestinians
   as a "crime."
   But the Islamist rulers of the Palestinian enclave made no claim of
   responsibility and did not say whether the four were members of its
   armed wing.

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