Palestinian presidential election kicks off

    GAZA, Jan. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- A Palestinian young man was critically wounded by an Israeli tank shell in the southern Gaza Strip city of al-Meghraqa, Palestinian security sources said Sunday. 

    Israeli troops stationed south of the Netsarim settlement fired at least one tank shell at houses, injuring 17-year-old NasserSa'afeen, said medics at the hospital of Al-Aqsa martyrs in the central Gaza Strip city of Deer al-Balah.

    Meanwhile, security sources said Israeli troops stationed around the refugee camp of Yebna in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah opened intensive fire at nearby houses.

    Palestinians in the camp were not able to head to voting centers due to the intensive fire, said the sources.

    Local residents called on international observers to head to therefugee camp and stop the Israeli practices to ensure that they could cast their votes.  Enditem