An unarmed Palestinian youth was killed by Israeli troops in the northern West Bank, Palestinian sources said.

According to Aljazeera's correspondent in Jenin, 19-year-old Alaa al-Hantuli was shot by troops who opened fire on a group of Palestinian youths who were standing in front of the Dotan military camp, south of Jenin, on Thursday.

The Israeli army was evacuating the Dotan camp when the shooting took place, the correspondent added.

The army confirmed soldiers had shot an unarmed Palestinian in the Dotan military base as it was being dismantled, saying he had ‘failed’ to heed orders to stop.

Palestinian witnesses and security sources said the victim was hit in the chest while heading into the base to scavenge for scrap metal. He was pronounced dead at a hospital in the Palestinian-ruled town of Jenin, medics said.

The shooting occurred in a part of the occupied West Bank where Israel evacuated and demolished four Jewish settlements last month as part of Prime Minister Ariel plan for "disengaging" from conflict with the Palestinians.

Israel also uprooted all 21 of its settlements in the Gaza Strip, but still has about 120 more enclaves in the West Bank.

Hamas threat to kidnap Israeli soldiers

A Hamas leader has said his group will consider various options to effect the return of some 7000 prisoners held in Israeli jails - including the kidnapping of Israeli occupation troops to be used for exchanges.

Speaking at a rally celebrating the Gaza Strip pullout on Thursday, Hasan Yusif told a 1500-strong crowd in Ram Allah that "no one can deny our right to struggle".

Masked youths could be seen carrying giant models of Qassam rockets, wearing fake explosive belts and holding up posters of the late Shaikh Ahmad Yasin and Abd al-Aziz al-Rantissi, prominent Palestinians assassinated by Israel in 2004.

Although the Israeli government has freed 900 Palestinians since Ariel Sharon and Mahmud Abbas met at Egypt peace summit in February, but more than 7000 still remain behind bars.

Election hopes

Hamas has consistently refused appeals to disarm its resistance militias before taking part in elections in January, when it hopes to make sweeping inroads into the decades-long grip on power maintained by Abbas's governing Fatah party.

Under huge pressure from Israel and the international community, Abbas has promised to step up the Palestinian security presence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip following very public shows of strength by armed resistance groups.

At talks with Hamas and the other main Palestinian factions on Wednesday, Abbas persuaded them to end all armed rallies celebrating the end of 38 years of Israeli military rule in the Gaza Strip

PHOTO CAPTION

A Palestinian mourners carry the body of Alaa al-Hantuli during his funeral in the West Bank town of Jenin, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005. (AP)