Palestinians Younger Than 35 Barred From Working in Israel

Israel on Tuesday banned Palestinians younger than 35 from entering the country to work even if they have permits, the latest punitive measure after a double suicide bombing in Tel Aviv on Sunday killed nearly two dozen bystanders.

Before the current conflict erupted in September 2000, more than 100,000 Palestinian workers crossed into Israel every day, providing a key source of income for residents of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

When the fighting began, Israel at first banned all Palestinians from entering for security reasons, saying that would keep attackers out of the country.

Now, only about 25,000 workers and 8,000 merchants have permits to enter, said Ophir Chacham, an Israeli military spokesman. But the new ban means most workers with permits will be idled.

Meanwhile in Gaza, thousands of people marched in the streets as mourners carried the bodies of three Palestinians killed early Tuesday.

The Israeli army said the three were killed in an exchange of fire as soldiers searched for militants near the Maghazi refugee camp.

But relatives of one victim said troops fired at Palestinian civilians driving near the camp, killing one. The body of another Palestinian, a gunman, was found in a nearby field, witnesses said. The identity of the third victim was not clear.