Israel is planning to cut off Gaza electricity in a bid to deter Palestinians from firing rockets from the Gaza Strip, defence officials said yesterday.

Benjamin Netanyahu has assumed the mantle of leadership of opposition to Israel’s pullout from the Gaza Strip by resigning as finance minister as the Cabinet was about to vote on it – but he admitted he can’t stop the withdrawal, set to begin next week.

Amram Mitzna, the Israeli ex-general who led his once-dominant Labour Party to its worst-ever election defeat in January, has resigned as party leader, dealing another blow to the country’s already battered peace camp.

A top Hamas bombmaker survived an Israeli air strike that was supposed to kill him, an Israeli Cabinet minister admitted today.

An Israeli army official says combat operations are wrapping up in Jenin, where the army has met fierce resistance in recent days.

Cracks emerged in Israel’s ruling coalition today after members of the moderate Labour party, led by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, boycotted a cabinet vote on tougher action against the Palestinians.

Palestinians today claimed Israel was guilty of war crimes after Israeli helicopter gunships killed a militant suspected of attacks against it.