Israel knew the wife of a senior Hamas militant was with him when it decided to kill him, but went ahead with the air strike anyway, the air force commander said today.

Three people were killed and 95 wounded today when a missile fired from an Israeli helicopter exploded in a crowd in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, doctors said.

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

The fate of Hamas master bombmaker Mohammed Deif remained unclear today, hours after an Israeli helicopter fired two missiles at a car in Gaza, killing at least two people and wounding dozens.

ISRAELI forces killed nine Palestinians in a raid in the Gaza Strip yesterday.

Israeli forces armed with tanks and helicopters clashed with Palestinians in Gaza before daybreak today, killing nine Palestinians in the bloodiest operation there in two months.

ISRAEL’S defence minister has ordered a speedy investigation into recent killings of Palestinians, including at least eight civilians, by army fire, his office said yesterday.

Israel’s defence minister has ordered a rapid investigation into several recent killings of Palestinians by the army which have included at least eight civilians.

ISRAEL yesterday enforced a "total ban" on Palestinian travel in much of the West Bank and sealed off a chunk of the Gaza Strip with tanks in response to Palestinian attacks on Israelis that killed 13 people over 24 hours.

Israel today enforced a ‘‘total ban’’ on Palestinian travel in much of the West Bank and sealed off a chunk of the Gaza Strip with tanks in response to Palestinian attacks on Israelis that killed 13 people over 24 hours.

A suicide bombing on a bus began a day of bloodshed that left 18 people dead and dozens injured in shootings, bombings and ambushes from northern Israel to Jerusalem and the Mediterranean coast.

ISRAEL was reeling yesterday after separate attacks by a suicide bomber and Palestinian gunman left at least 12 people dead.

A Palestinian suicide bomber devastated a bus during the morning rush today - killing himself and eight passengers on a day punctuated by violence from Galilee to Jerusalem’s Old City and the Mediterranean beachfront.

At least nine people died and dozens were wounded when an apparent suicide bomber blew up a bus in northern Israel during the rush hour today.

At least 12 people were killed and dozens were wounded when an apparent suicide bomber blew up a bus in northern Israel during rush hour today.

At least eight people died and more than two dozen were injured when a bomb blast ripped through a packed bus in northern Israel during the morning rush hour, police sources and doctors said.

A bomb that blew apart a Jerusalem university cafeteria, killing seven people, claimed victims from around the world, in what an Islamic terror group said was revenge for an Israeli attack.

Israel transferred €15.34m in tax revenues to the impoverished Palestinian Authority today in a move meant to ease economic conditions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

PALESTINIAN gunmen opened fire on Friday on two Israeli cars near a Jewish settlement in the southern West Bank, killing four people and injuring three others, the army and rescue officials said.

Israeli tanks rolled into Gaza City early today in the first operation since a heavily criticised bombing raid there killed a terrorist leader and 14 other Palestinians, including nine children.

Israeli tanks moved into Gaza City early today in the first operation there since a bombing attack killed a Hamas leader and 14 other Palestinians in a mission that drew harsh world criticism.

Israel has eased restrictions on the Palestinians in an effort to make amends for a Gaza City bombing raid that it admitted was a ‘‘mistake’’.

Israel admits bombing a Gaza building and killing 14 bystanders was a "mistake."

FOREIGN Minister Shimon Peres yesterday said Israel would withdraw troops from some West Bank cities following stinging criticism of an air strike that killed 14 Palestinian civilians as well as a Hamas leader.

Israeli premier Ariel Sharon called his top ministers together today to discuss resuming peace talks with the Palestinians, a day after the military killed nine children along with a terrorist leader.

DESCRIBED by Israel as the Gaza Strip's "most brilliant and brutal terrorist," Salah Shehadeh spent more than a decade in Israeli and Palestinian jails, and for the last three years was often in hiding as he oversaw Hamas' frequent attacks.

ISRAEL came under international fire yesterday after nine children were killed along with a Hamas leader in a missile strike that premier Ariel Sharon boasted was "one of our biggest successes".

European, UN and Arab officials roundly condemned Israel’s missile strike on an apartment building housing a wanted militant leader, terming it unjustified, criminal and counterproductive.

Described by Israel as the Gaza Strip’s ‘‘most brilliant and brutal terrorist,’’ Salah Shehadeh spent more than a decade in Israeli and Palestinian jails, and for the last three years was often in hiding as he oversaw Hamas’ frequent attacks.