Israeli forces hunting for militants in northern Gaza shot and killed a 16-year-old Palestinian Sunday.
Witnesses in the town of Beit Lahiya say it appeared Israeli fire was aimed at the teenager because he had been standing near a rocket launcher used by militants a short time earlier.
Palestinian security officials (who asked not to be identified) say the teenager may have been in the area by accident, and that he had no connection with the rocket fired into Israel.
Israeli military officials gave a roughly similar account of the incident, but said they believed they were firing at a member of a militant group.
Israel's military has been trying to suppress Palestinian rocket fire from Gaza for months. Fighting intensified recently when Israeli troops staged major incursions into northern Gaza.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.