6 die in gun battle as Palestinian forces storm Hamas hideout

PALESTINIAN forces stormed a Hamas hideout in the northern West Bank, setting off a fierce battle that left six dead yesterday in the bloodiest factional violence since the Palestinian president launched a crackdown on the Islamic militant group two years ago.

Hamas militants lobbed grenades and fired automatic weapons to push back the raid, drawing dozens of government forces to the scene. After the battle, hundreds of spent bullet casings, puddles of blood and tear gas canisters were visible at the hideout, a two-storey building in Qalqiliya, a West Bank town with a strong Hamas presence. Parts of the walls were burned down.

Two top Hamas militants who had been on the run from Israel for years were among those killed, along with an unarmed Hamas supporter and three Palestinian policemen.