The leader of Israel’s Labour party has threatened to quit the coalition government over resistance to his plans to dismantle illegal Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories.

Four Hamas supporters were killed in clashes with Palestinian police in Gaza, during internal strife that came just hours after an Israeli helicopter fired a missile that exploded on a crowded Gaza street, killing and wounding dozens.

Israel was accused of a massacre today after at least 13 Palestinians were killed and more than 100 wounded during a devastating army raid on a Gaza Strip town.

Israel was today accused of a massacre after at least 12 Palestinians were killed and 100 injured when troops opened fire on a Gaza Strip town.

Thousands of Palestinians, many defying military curfews, poured into West Bank and Gaza streets today to protest Israel’s assault on Yasser Arafat’s headquarters, and four demonstrators were killed by army fire.