The youth, who was shot in the legs, was carrying a water gun resembling a Tec-9 machine pistol, the police said.

They said the youth was carrying an unlicensed semiautomatic handgun.

A youth carried a bench from the building to the wagon.

He testified that at least two of the approaching youths were carrying hockey sticks.

But in that instant it had ignited the covering of the burden the youths carried.

The youths carried two coffins holding the bodies of Palestinians who had been killed earlier in the siege.

Willie said many youths carried guns for the same reason that he does: protection in a rough neighborhood.

The officers said they thought the youths might be carrying guns.

On their way they have come across bands of "youths carrying knives and sticks," but no fighting has been reported.

The troops believed their lives were in danger because the youths might have been carrying explosives, the official said.