AN Australian student and peace activist has reportedly been shot by Israeli troops in the Palestinian city of Nablus.

Joshua Taaffe, 24, believed to be a student at the University of Western Australia, is also a member of the International Solidarity Movement. American Rachel Corrie, who was killed when run over by an Israeli bulldozer in March, was a member of that group, which has peace activists stationed in Nablus.

A US activist was also injured in the incident last Friday. Canberra-based ISM activist Michael Shaik said he believed the two were wounded when Israeli soldiers drove into the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, in the occupied West Bank.

He said the Israeli soldiers were randomly firing their weapons into the street. Mr Shaik claims two Israeli military jeeps entered the camp and began shooting.

He said Mr Taaffe and US volunteer Mark Turner, also 24, had escorted a group of children to safety and stayed on to observe the conduct of the Israeli soldiers, which the ISM sees as one of its functions.

Mr Turner’s right leg was grazed by a bullet, while Mr Taaffe was wounded in both legs when a bullet passed through his left thigh and into his right.

The pair are in Rafidia Hospital in Nablus.

ISM reported Mr Taaffe as saying: “I was more terrified than I have ever been in my life. Many of the patients are very anxious that the troops will return overnight tonight. As terrified as I was, I eventually realised that it must be so much worse for the Palestinians because there is nothing protecting them or restraining the soldiers from shooting.”