Nurse shot through heart and man in wheelchair among Jenin dead

Israel's efforts to defend its conduct in the Jenin refugee camp are fast unravelling with revelations, published in The Independent today, that nearly half of the Palestinian dead identified so far were civilians.

After five days of interviews with survivors of the assault – conducted alongside a Human Rights Watch investigator – detailed accounts have emerged of widespread atrocities committed by Israeli troops inside the camp.

Israel has insisted that it has nothing to hide about the events in Jenin, the scene of eight days of fighting, but its officials say it may bar entry to a UN fact- finding team unless it can determine some of the members and define its terms of reference.

A high-level delegation from Israel is due at UN headquarters to see the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, this morning. UN officials said Mr Annan was unwilling to alter the line-up of the mission's three main members.