Palestinians injured by Jewish settlers

GAZA CITY, Gaza, June 18 (UPI) -- Three Gazans were wounded Saturday in a fight with Israelis near Gaza's beach, police reported.

Palestinian security sources said the Palestinians were swimming close to a Jewish settlement when a large group of settlers started shooting in their direction and throwing rocks at them.

Hospital sources said 41-year-old Nasser Wafi was shot in the foot and 20-year-old Mohammad al-Majayda was injured in his head.

Israeli police Superintendent Bat Sheva Zittoun told United Press International one Palestinian was shot and two sustained light wounds from beatings.

The Palestinians live in the Mwassi, a crowded poor enclave in the center of the Katif settlement block. It borders an abandoned hotel that Jewish militants recently took over to fight the planned withdrawal.

One of the squatters' leaders, Itamar Ben-Gvir of the outlawed Kach movement, told UPI the Palestinians had provoked the Israelis with iron rods and stones. The Israelis defended themselves, he said.

A spokesman for the Gush Katif settlers said dozens of Arabs had attacked residents of the hotel who were walking along the beach.