GAZA, Jan. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli soldiers shot dead on Saturday a Palestinian police officer and a resident of the Zaytoon neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, said Palestinian medics.

    Several Israeli armored vehicles, tanks and jeeps raided the eastern area of Gaza City which lies close to the commercial passage of Karni on the borders with Israel, said witnesses.

    On Thursday, six Israelis and three Palestinian militants were killed in a suicide bombing and exchange of fire at the passage. Three Palestinian militant groups including al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed wing of Fatah movement, claimed joint responsibility for the attack.

    Bakker Abu Safeya, chief of emergency at Shiffa Hospital in GazaCity, said the police officer named Yahya Abu Muheisen, 25, was shot dead by Israeli troops' gunfire in eastern Gaza City.

    He said the other Palestinian killed by Israeli troops in the raid was identified as Eassa Keshko, 20, adding that another policeofficer was moderately wounded.

    A Palestinian security spokesman condemned the killing of the police officer, saying "if Israel really wants the Palestinian security forces to keep and restore security in the Gaza Strip, it must stop targeting our police."

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