Palestinian security officer killed in Israeli shelling

One Palestinian security officer was killed and three civilians were injured Sunday by an Israeli artillery shell in northern Gaza Strip, security sources reported.

Israeli army shelled a Palestinian national security forces post in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, killing Khaled Abu Jarad, 29, a security officer, security sources said.

Israeli forces have been striking the Gaza Strip over the weekend in retaliation for militants rocket attacks on southern Israel.

Fourteen Palestinians have been killed in three separate Israeli missile strikes in the Gaza Strip since Friday.

Israel has stepped up strikes against Palestinian militants after the Hamas government was sworn in following its parliamentary election win in January.

Israeli Prime Minister-designate Ehud Olmert said Saturday that Israel will not try to negotiate a peace deal with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas because he lost authority since Hamas' rise to power.

Source: Xinhua