THIRTEEN Palestinians and three Israelis were killed yesterday in fierce gunbattles in the northern Gaza Strip after a wave of Israeli air strikes, the worst fighting in the impoverished area in months.

TENS of thousands of Israelis were forming a human chain yesterday in a mass show of strength against government plans to pull all Jewish settlers and troops out of the Gaza Strip.

A PALESTINIAN teenager was killed as he tried to stop militants from planting a bomb to attack Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip, while beleaguered Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat faced new protests.

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.