Israeli Soldier Dies of Injuries in Bid to Save Bomb Victims

An Israeli soldier who was critically injured when he tried to rescue a woman and her children from a passenger bus that was firebombed in the West Bank died Thursday in a London hospital, the army said.

Also Thursday, Israeli troops shot and wounded 13 Palestinians in sporadic clashes in the occupied territories, Arab hospital officials and reporters said.

Military spokesmen said they could not immediately confirm the casualties in Thursday’s violence and were investigating the reports.

The soldier’s death raised to 10 the number of Israeli Jews who have died in the yearlong Palestinian revolt against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. One Israeli Arab has also been killed. At least 320 Palestinians have died.

The army identified the soldier as 19-year-old David Deloroza of Jerusalem. He was transferred to a London hospital for an operation to replace his heart and lungs, which were severely damaged from smoke inhalation during the firebomb attack near the city of Jericho.

Palestinian guerrillas hurled the bombs at the Israeli bus on Oct. 31.