THOUSANDS of Palestinians took to the streets yesterday for the mass funeral of 12 Palestinians who were killed during a raid by Israeli troops on a Hamas stronghold following a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.

ISRAELI troops stormed a Hamas stronghold yesterday and exchanged fire with dozens of masked gunmen in the most intense battle in Gaza in 31 months of fighting. Twelve Palestinians, including two children and a top bombmaker, were killed.

Eight Palestinians, including a toddler, were killed in Gaza today in what was described as the most intense gun battle there in 31 months of fighting.