GAZA, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Israeli troops killed some 4,348 Palestinians since the eruption of the second Palestinian Intifada (Uprising) began in 2000, said a report on Thursday.

    The report was issued by the official Palestinian Central Bureau for Statistics of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Thursday on the sixth anniversary of the Intifada.

    The statistics showed that 2,372 were killed in Gaza Strip during clashes with Israeli troops or in various Israeli raids while 1,940 Palestinians where killed in West Bank. Among the killed during the Intifada, 847 were children aged under 18.

    The report added that some others were killed both outside the occupied Palestinian territories and in Israel.

    Moreover, the figure didn't include the number of Palestinians killed in the Israeli offensive action dubbed operation "Summer Rains" launched in late June after the capture of Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit in Gaza Strip by Palestinian militant groups. At least250 have been killed in this operation which is still ongoing.

    The Intifada was erupted on Sept. 28, 2000 when the then Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon visited the disputed al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem.

    The Palestinians, who considered Sharon's visit as provocative, took suddenly to the streets and clashed with Israeli troops.

    However, affected by the Israeli operations and blockade, the Palestinian economy declined to the lowest level in 2002 and is still suffering today in spite of limited progress, said the report. Enditem