Palestinian Woman Dies after Inhaling Tear Gas

A Palestinian woman died after inhaling tear gas used by Israeli troops near the West Bank city of Bethlehem, a medical official said Tuesday, but the military denied any involvement.

The army "fired tear gas" at stone-throwing Palestinians late Monday near the home of the woman, who was "suffering from health problems," the medical official told AFP.

The woman, in her 40s, "died after arriving at hospital."

But the army denied using tear gas, with a spokeswoman telling AFP no "riot dispersal means" had been used against Palestinians who were "disturbing public order."

The incident took place at Ayda refugee camp northwest of Bethlehem, where Palestinians regularly clash with Israeli soldiers.

In a similar incident in January, an 85-year-old Palestinian man died in his own home after breathing in tear gas fired by Israeli security forces near the occupied West Bank city of Nablus.

On Monday, an Israeli civilian was killed in a shooting near the southern West Bank city of Hebron, the army said, as the seven-day Jewish Passover holiday began.