GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian security forces said they had freed an Italian hostage who was kidnapped by masked gunmen in the Gaza Strip on Sunday. Security forces said that the Italian peace activist was being taken to a compound in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - About 100 masked militants stormed the heavily guarded home of Gaza's former security chief Wednesday, dragged him outside in his pajamas and shot him, a challenge to the Palestinian Authority days before Israel was to hand over Gaza.

The Palestinian Authority police chief says his force is ready to take over security from Israel in the Gaza Strip but complained of a shortage of ammunition. Brig. Gen.

Text of report by Palestinian news agency Wafa web site Bethlehem, 13 July: Minister of Interior and National Security Maj-Gen Nasr Yusuf this evening praised the aid that the EU offers to the Palestinian National Authority [PNA].

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Gunfire erupted Sunday in the tent set up for mourners of Yasser Arafat just after his successor as PLO leader arrived, and one Palestinian policeman was killed and five other people were wounded, witnesses and hospital officials said.