Violence erupts on Gaza Strip as Israel raids towns

Israeli troops have raided three Palestinian towns and a refugee camp in the most extensive military operation in the Gaza Strip in 16 months of fighting.

The operation, in which three Palestinian policemen and a civilian were killed, was launched in reprisal for Palestinian rocket fire on Israel.

Palestinian gunmen and Israeli troops started firing from tank-mounted machine guns.

Several dozen Palestinian youngsters who had been throwing stones at the tanks were in the line of fire. One youngster was wounded in the leg.

Israeli Cabinet Minister Ephraim Sneh said soldiers would remain in Palestinian-controlled areas of Gaza for days, until rocket factories had been found, and that the military would carry out more large-scale, long-term raids if rocket fire persists.

Palestinian officials warned that the Israeli incursions would lead to further escalation. "The United States must put an end to this Israeli policy," said Nabil Abu Rdeneh, an adviser to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

In Deir al-Balah, three Palestinian policemen were killed when Israeli tanks shelled their positions, Palestinian security officials said. In Beit Lahiya and the adjacent Jebalya camp, soldiers searched homes and arrested 11 suspected members of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups.

The most massive operation was launched against Beit Hanoun, a town of about 20,000 Palestinians in northern Gaza.

Soldiers clamped a curfew on Beit Hanoun and searched homes, arresting 16 suspected militants, Palestinian officials said.

The Israeli military said it launched the incursions in response to the Qassam-2 fire. The military said Beit Hanoun was a Hamas stronghold from which many attacks against Israel had been launched, including mortar fire on nearby Jewish settlements.

Israeli troops have repeatedly entered Palestinian areas since fighting erupted in September 2000. Israeli troops last raided Beit Hanoun in December.