GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories (AFP) - Israeli forces shot dead a man and wounded another in the Gaza Strip near the border with the Jewish state on Friday, a medical source in the Palestinian enclave said.

Mr Bilal Samir Oweida, a 20-year-old civilian, died after being "shot in the chest by Israeli soldiers" east of Jabaliya, in northern Gaza, said Mr Ashraf al-Qudra, a spokesman for the Hamas-run health ministry.

Another young man was wounded in the same incident, he said. The Israeli army had no immediate comment.

In early January, Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian youth, who the army said had been vandalising the security fence in the same area.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Israel allows "civilian access on foot to areas up to 100m from the perimeter fence for agricultural purposes only, and vehicular access to a distance of 300m." Israeli soldiers often fire on Palestinians who stray beyond the civilian access area.