Gaza City - A Palestinian farmer was killed Tuesday as he inspected his land north-east of Gaza City and near the border with Israel, hospital officials said.

Witnesses said he was shot dead by Israeli soldiers as he approached the border, north-east of the town of Jabaliya.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said the army knew of no such shooting incident in the area, but said it was checking the report.

She said Israeli soldiers did return fire at Palestinian gunmen in two other cases in the southern Gaza Strip, both near the Kissufim border crossing.

In both cases, gunmen opened fire at a border patrol on the Israeli side of the border, and in another on a patrol on the Palestinian side of the border, she said.

The death on the third day of a fragile truce could prompt threats by Palestinian militant groups to avenge the alleged Israeli violation. (dpa)