James Miller had won numerous awards for his work

An investigation into the death of a British cameraman shot by Israeli soldiers has been demanded by UK diplomats and fellow journalists.

James Miller, 34, was killed in the Gaza Strip when an Israeli armoured vehicle opened fire and wounded him in the neck, according to reports.

Mr Miller, an award-winning journalist who has worked for the BBC, had been making a documentary on house demolitions in Palestinian areas.

Another Briton who had been with Mr Miller said they were waving a white flag and moving towards the Israeli vehicle when it opened fire.

The Israeli army said it had returned fire after being attacked by rocket-propelled grenades and expressed "sorrow at a civilian death".

But a spokesman added: "It must be stressed a cameraman who knowingly enters a combat zone, especially at night, endangers himself".

'Callous'

Mr Miller was born in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, and had been living in Devon with his wife and son.

After confirming his death, a Foreign Office spokesman said: "Our sympathy lies with the family."

He was one of the outstanding camera operators of his generation Dorothy Byrne - Channel Four

He added: "We are in contact with the Israeli authorities and pushing for a full and transparent investigation."

Aidan White, general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, called for an independent inquiry after the Israeli army issued its "routine and callous expressions of regret".

He said: "Killing journalists either deliberately or by gross negligence should be made official war crimes under international law."

Mr White said it was a "terrible irony" that Mr Miller died on World Press Freedom Day.

'Passionately committed'

A spokeswoman for the US channel HBO, which was employing Mr Miller, said his death was "devastating news".

A Palestinian woman points to the spot where Mr Miller was shot

A statement from Mr Miller's former colleagues at the BBC said they were "deeply saddened" to learn of his death.

He had worked on a number of Correspondent programmes for BBC Two.

Peter Horrocks, head of BBC Current Affairs, said: "We knew him as a talented and brave journalist, passionately committed to exposing abuse of human rights and injustice in the world."

Mr Miller won international acclaim for his documentary work including Beneath the Veil - a film about life under the Taleban.

Dorothy Byrne, Channel Four's acting head of news and current affairs, said he had been a "brave" journalist whose films had made a lasting impact.

She said: "He was one of the outstanding camera operators of his generation."

Human shields

Mr Miller was killed in Rafah, an area of Gaza on the southern border with Egypt which is a site of frequent gun battles between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants.

On Friday, the Israeli foreign ministry announced plans to crack down on international "human shield" volunteers who have attempted to prevent demolitions.

They started by detaining a member of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) in Rafah.

A British peace activist with the ISM is now in a coma after he was shot in the head by an Israeli tank in Rafah last month.

Thomas Hurndall, 22, was believed to have been among a group of nine activists who had to abandon their planned protest at a refugee camp in Rafah when shooting started.

Two other peace activists were also wounded last month and a 23-year-old American was killed in March.