Israeli forces kill Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank

GAZA CITY - Two men found dead near the site of an Israeli missile strike at the Gaza strip's border with Israel were identified as Palestinian cousins, family members said on Tuesday.

The Israeli military said it had attacked a group suspected of tampering with the border fence.

Family members identified Najy Jamil Abu Assi, 18, and Ala Ziad Abu Assi, 21, after seeing their pictures on social media. They were residents of the village of Zanna east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Shortly before midnight on Monday the Israeli military said one of its aircraft had fired at a group of suspected militants who had "suspiciously approached" the border fence and placed an object next to it.

Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005 but maintains tight control of its land and sea borders.

Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been stalled for several years and Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, where the Palestinians hope to establish an independent state, have expanded.

Israeli forces say that in recent days they have dismantled at least two bombs planted near the border fence, which has been the scene of weekly Palestinian demonstrations since March 30.

At least 179 Palestinians have been killed in the protests, according to medical officials in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army says it is defending its border against rioting protesters who have sought to breach the fence and enter Israel.

'We heard screaming'

In a separate incident in Beit Rima village in the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian family said one of its members died while being arrested by Israeli soldiers.

The family of 24-year-old Mohammad al-Khatib said they believed he was beaten by the soldiers during a dawn raid on his home.

The Israeli military said its initial inquiry showed the troops used no violence and that it had launched an investigation.

But Bashir al-Khatib, the man's brother, said soldiers entered the house early on Tuesday morning and went to Khatib's room.

The family told Palestinian media that some 40 soldiers raided their house and assaulted Muhammad while he was still laying in bed.

They said they heard shouting before seeing soldiers carrying an unconscious Khatib from the house.

"They entered Mohammed's room while he was sleeping, and they beat him violently and we heard screaming," Bashir said.

"After a while he went silent, and a soldier carried him out on his back."

Bashir added that Israeli forces ripped his brother's nightwear off and continued to brutally beat him after he had lost consciousness, before they carried him outside and took him to an unknown location. The family was later told he was dead.

The Israeli military said Khatib was being sought for suspected security offences.

"During the arrest, he lost consciousness and was treated at the scene by the forces there. He was evacuated to an Israeli hospital for further treatment," a military spokeswoman said.

"Initial investigation has shown he was arrested with no resistance (from him) or violence (by the soldiers)."

In a statement, Khatib's family called for international witnesses to attend the post-mortem if Israeli authorities insisted on carrying one out.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Club said it held Israel responsible for Khatib's death.

It said his death was "added to a long list of crimes and unjust executions carried out against Palestinian detainees and prisoners inside detention centers and prisons."