An inquest is to begin into the death of a Briton shot in the Gaza Strip.

Tom Hurndall, 22, from Tufnell Park, north London, was shot in April 2003 as he accompanied children in the Palestinian town of Rafah.

Last year, an Israeli court sentenced ex-soldier Taysir Hayb to eight years in jail for Mr Hurndall's manslaughter.

But Mr Hurndall's parents believe the Manchester Metropolitan University student was the victim of a "culture of impunity" adopted by the Israeli army.

He was hit in the head and died after nine months in a coma.

The inquest will be heard at St Pancras Coroner's Court where earlier this month another inquest returned a verdict of unlawful killing in the case of cameraman James Miller, 34, from Devon.

He was killed in Gaza three weeks after Mr Hurndall was shot, just one mile away.

The case was transferred from Westminster Coroner's Court so coroner Dr Andrew Reid, who presided over Mr Miller's hearing, could hear Mr Hurndall's inquest.

Mr Hurndall's parents are set to appear as witnesses at the hearing, together with ballistics experts, police, medics and a pathologist.

Anthony Hurndall told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he hoped the new inquest would look at the policy and practices adopted by the Israeli army.

"As it is clearly a policy adopted by the Israeli army which has enabled soldiers to shoot first of all Tom, and then James Miller, within the space of three weeks within a kilometre of each other, I think it is our government's responsibility to take an active interest and to apply pressure," he said.

They have accused the Israeli government of a lack of co-operation with investigations into their son's death.

Jocelyn Hurndall added: "They [Israel] have not addressed the main issue - the culture of impunity.

"This soldier was functioning under orders. He is a flea in the whole process of justice in the Occupied Territories."

An official inquiry into Mr Hurndall's death came about after pressure from the family and the UK government.

Initially the Israeli army denied he had been shot by a soldier from an army watchtower.

However, witnesses at the demonstration in the Palestinian town of Rafa said Mr Hurndall was hit by a rifle bullet while trying to shield young children.

PHOTO CAPTION

Alice Coy (not seen) cries for help as she holds her hand over the head wound of British peace activist Thomas Hurndall, who had been shot in the head moments earlier in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Friday, April 11, 2003. (AP)

BBC