Street battle leaves 11 Palestinians dead

ISRAELI tanks and soldiers battled Palestinian militants in the streets of Gaza City before dawn yesterday in violence that left 11 Palestinians dead, including a suicide bomber who tried to blow up a tank, Palestinians said.

The Israeli forces said they were targeting Palestinian metal workshops that manufacture mortars and rockets. Twenty-five Palestinians were wounded, and electricity was cut to much of Gaza City, the largest Palestinian city with some 300,000 residents.

The fighting began after 40 tanks charged into the city’s Shajaiyeh neighbourhood on Tuesday night.