Dozens of senior Palestinians today backed President Mahmoud Abbas’ refusal to negotiate with Israel as long as it builds in West Bank settlements.

Hamas security forces killed the leader of an al-Qaida-inspired group in the Gaza Strip today in a shootout that claimed the lives of 22 people, Hamas said.

Islamic radicals from an al-Qaida-inspired group battled Hamas security in the Gaza Strip today in shootouts that killed at least 13 people.

A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up next to Israel’s fortified nuclear reactor, killing a woman and wounding 11 people in the first such attack in more than a year.

An Israeli warplane today attacked the home of a senior Palestinian militant killed by Israeli troops last week.

TEARFUL friends and relatives, some cheering or waving flags, welcomed 429 Palestinian prisoners after their early release by Israel yesterday in a gesture meant to strengthen moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The Hamas militant group today banned public prayers in the Gaza Strip, moving to halt growing dissent by supporters of the rival Fatah movement.

A show on Hamas TV depicting a man in a bee suit abusing cats and lions at a Gaza Strip zoo today drew protests from the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Israeli Cabinet ministers today approved a list of 256 Palestinian prisoners due to be released this week in a gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, officials said.

Exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal today apologised for mistakes made during last month’s bloody takeover of the Gaza Strip, saying they were individual acts that do not represent Fatah policies.

The Israeli Cabinet today approved the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners, officials said, in the government's latest gesture of support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, appearing energised in his bitter battle with the Islamic Hamas, considered calling a new West Bank election to solidify his standing.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas swore in a new government without Hamas and outlawed the Hamas militia, deepening the crisis between the two sides after the Islamic group seized control of Gaza in a quick military victory last week.

Embattled Mahmoud Abbas got a major boost in his increasingly bellicose showdown with Hamas tonight, with a US diplomat saying he expects a crippling 15-month-old foreign aid embargo to be lifted once the Palestinian president appoints an emergency government without the Islamic militants.

A crowd looted the home of long-time Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat today destroying one of the strongest symbols of the Fatah movement in the Gaza Strip, witnesses and Fatah officials said.

The Al Aqsa TV and radio stations, allied with Hamas, came under fire from Palestinian security forces today, employees said.

Israel's deputy defence minister today threatened to target Hamas' political leaders, calling them "terrorists in suits" after a Hamas rocket attack killed an Israeli woman.

Renewed coalition negotiations between the rival Fatah and Hamas movements hit a new snag today, people close to the negotiations said, raising the possibility of a new round of political violence.

In a show of strength against Hamas, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement planned a large anniversary rally today, but Abbas aides said the moderate leader would also give coalition talks with the Islamic militant group another chance.

Hamas gunmen killed two Palestinian policemen loyal to the rival Fatah movement this morning, just hours after the sides agreed to a new ceasefire meant to end more than a week of factional fighting.

Hamas gunmen opened fire on demonstrators from the rival Fatah movement in the southern Gaza Strip today, wounding four people in the first factional violence following the deaths of three children in a drive-by shooting, officials said.

Gunmen killed three young children of a senior Palestinian intelligence officer today in a drive-by shooting in a street crowded with hundreds of school children, an unprecedented attack that could ignite widespread factional fighting.

THE US has put forward plans to deploy international observers at the main cargo crossing between Israel and Gaza to prevent repeated security closures of Gaza’s economic lifeline.

The US proposes deploying international observers at the main cargo crossing between Israel and Gaza to prevent repeated security closures of Gaza’s economic lifeline, Palestinian and Israeli officials said today.

Palestinian officials said today they expected to have “good news” about the two Fox News journalists kidnapped in Gaza City within two days and believe they are unharmed.

Israeli leaders approved new incursions into the Gaza Strip, security officials said today, after the Hamas leader said he would not free an Israeli soldier whose capture by Palestinian militants led to a bloody 13-day confrontation.

European Union leaders endorsed a plan today to channel aid to cash-starved Palestinians focusing on health, power supply and support for needy families while maintaining a funding freeze on the Hamas-led government.

EU leaders were today poised to endorse a plan to resume aid payments to cash-starved Palestinians focusing on health, social services and utilities such as heating and sanitation, while maintaining a funding freeze on the Hamas-led government.

HUNDREDS of Palestinian security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas went on a violent rampage against the Hamas-led government last night, riddling the parliament and Cabinet buildings with bullets to protest an attack against their comrades in the Gaza Strip by Hamas gunmen.

Palestinian security today foiled an attempt to kill a top commander loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas with a roadside bomb, officials said, further raising tensions between Abbas’ Fatah movement and the Hamas-led government.

Jordan today announced the arrest of more than 20 Hamas activists for allegedly smuggling weapons to attack targets in the kingdom and warned the Palestinian Hamas-led government of the consequences of any terrorist activity.

An Israeli airstrike today killed two Palestinian militants in the northern Gaza Strip and a Palestinian man fatally stabbed an Israeli soldier in the West Bank, intensifying a new round of violence in the wake of a suicide bombing at an Israeli shopping centre this week.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas today ordered his Fatah movement to suspend voting in a primary election because of suspicion of fraud.

Powerful explosions ripped apart headquarters and sent water and communication towers crashing to the ground today as Israel destroyed the last of its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and prepared to hand over the territory to the Palestinians early next week.

ABOUT 100 masked militants stormed the heavily guarded home of Gaza’s former security chief early yesterday, dragged him out in his pyjamas and killed him in a burst of gunfire — a brazen challenge to the Palestinian Authority days before Israel was to hand over Gaza.

Mahmoud Abbas today urged Palestinians to maintain calm during Israel’s upcoming withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and promised to hold long-overdue legislative elections in January.

Israeli police today pledged to stop more than 20,000 marchers, including teenagers with backpacks and parents with pushchairs, who were en route to the Gaza Strip to protest the summer's planned withdrawal – in the tensest showdown yet between protesters and the security forces.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas indefinitely postponed forthcoming parliamentary elections today, giving his struggling Fatah party time to fend off a growing challenge by Hamas.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said today he expects Hamas to hand in its weapons after Palestinian elections this summer, but he stopped short of threatening to disarm the Islamic militants by force.

A suicide bomber blew himself up among Israelis waiting outside a nightclub near Tel Aviv’s beachfront promenade just before midnight tonight, killing several people, wounding dozens and shattering an unofficial Mideast truce.

In a first step against militants, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas ordered his security forces today to try to prevent attacks against Israel and to investigate a shooting at a Gaza Strip crossing that killed six Israeli civilians last week.

Palestinians held their first presidential election in nine years today, choosing a successor to Yasser Arafat in a vote many across the world hoped would usher in a moderate leadership and revitalise the Middle East peace process.

Palestinian gunmen opened fire on a group of Israelis soldiers in the West Bank yesterday, killing one and wounding three, just a day after militant leaders in the area told Palestinian presidential candidate Mahmoud Abbas they were ready to abide by a cease-fire.

Hamas – regarded as a terror group by Israel and the West – made a strong showing in West Bank local elections – the first time the Islamic militant group competed at the polls.