Israeli troops have shot dead four Palestinians in the last 24 hours.

Israeli security forces closed two popular beaches yesterday to scour them for explosives after two barrels filled with munitions were found washed up on the shores of southern Israel.

Mental health professionals say use of the synthetic opioid Tramadol has risen sharply in Gaza since Israel's three-week Operation Cast Lead offensive.

Osama bin Laden has allegedly said in a new audiotape that President Obama's Afghanistan strategy is "hopeless" and has called on the US to end the Afghanistan war and break its alliance with Israel.