A Palestinian was shot dead and an Israeli soldier reportedly killed in a blast on Tuesday as the deadliest flare-up since the end of the Gaza conflict cast a dark shadow over the new US peace envoy's maiden mission to the region.
The soldier was killed and three others wounded when an explosion struck an army patrol near the border with Gaza, the Dubai-based television channel Al-Arabiya reported, citing one of its correspondents in Israel.
Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television reported that the soldier was killed when a shell hit a group of Israeli troops.
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Security sources in Israel confirmed an explosion near an army unit patrolling the border close to the Kissufim crossing but did not comment on casualties.
"An explosive device was detonated near an army force patrolling the border on the Israeli side," a security source told AFP on condition of anonymity.
