AT least seven Palestinians were shot dead and an Israeli officer was critically wounded during heavy clashes in this northern Gaza town, while Israeli troops also carried out raids in the West Bank.

At least six Israeli soldiers were killed today when their armoured personnel carrier drove over a bomb during clashes with Palestinian gunmen in the Gaza Strip.

Abdel Aziz Rantissi was clearly one of those leading the battle against Israel, against Jews, co-ordinating actions between the various terrorist organisations in Gaza — and, since we failed to bring him to justice, we brought justice to him.