Palestinian civilian killed as Israel says Abbas unable to disarm Hamas

A Palestinian civilian was shot dead Thursday by Israeli forces in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian security sources said. They said the civilian was driving in Beit Lahia during an Israeli arrest raid when troops shot him in the neck. The Palestinian man died instantly, the official added.

Meanwhile, Israel's head of military intelligence, General Aharon Zeevi, has said that new Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas would not be able to fulfill demands to disarm Hamas. "Abu Mazen (Abbas) will not try to confiscate the illegally held weapons, he will not take on Hamas," Zeevi said in comments broadcast on public radio.

"Abu Mazen will try to convince (Hamas) and appeal to Palestinian public opinion to put pressure on the terrorists by explaining that this generation has suffered enough," added Zeevi.