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News.au: Palestinian schoolgirl shot dead

AN eight-year-old Palestinian girl shot dead by Israeli troops in the central Gaza Strip was killed while showing off her new school uniform to friends, the youngster's grieving mother said today.

Some 1500 people gathered in Khan Yunis for the funeral of Aaya Mahmud Fayaad, who relatives and witnesses said was hit by bullets fired from an Israeli observation post on the edge of a Jewish settlement.

The girl's mother, Am Isam, told mourners at the family home that Aaya had been killed as she showed off her new uniform ahead of the start of the school year tomorrow.

"These are clothes that I bought for her yesterday," said the distraught mother as she showed off the outfit.