Troops kill 2 Palestinian teens ahead of prisoner funeral

NABLUS: Israeli troops shot dead two Palestinian teenagers in a clash in the West Bank, medics said Thursday, hiking tensions ahead of the burial of a Palestinian prisoner who died in jail.

The clashes late on Wednesday in the northern town of Tulkarem came after two days of violent protests and a general strike following the death of Maisara Abu Hamdiyeh, a prisoner serving life in Israeli jail who was suffering from cancer.

The army said troops opened fire at "rioters who hurled petrol bombs" at a military post there.

Palestinian security officials said Amer Nassar, 16, was hit by a bullet to the head, and the body of his 17-year-old cousin Naji Balbisi was discovered near an army checkpoint at first light on Thursday, with wounds to the chest.

Both teenagers were to be buried after midday prayers.

Abu Hamdiyeh's death on Tuesday morning after a battle with throat cancer sparked fury across the occupied territories, with Israel bracing for further unrest when he is buried in Hebron after the midday prayers.

Since news of his death emerged, Hebron has been wracked by ongoing clashes between stonethrowing youths and Israeli troops, and since Tuesday the city has been shut down for a three-day general strike in a show of mourning.