Israeli army cuts Gaza Strip in half

The Israeli army has blocked the main north-south road in the Palestinian-ruled Gaza Strip, effectively barring civilians from moving between the northern and southern areas.

Israel said the action was taken in response to repeated attacks on Jewish settlements in the 150 square mile territory.

The blockade created further hardship for the besieged Palestinian population, which has suffered stringent travel restrictions imposed by the Israeli army since the al-Aqsa Intefadeh began in September 2000.

Around one million Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip and Israel has effectively confined them to their own communities with a network of roadblocks.

Meanwhile, in the West Bank, around 30 armoured Israeli vehicles entered the village of Salfit before dawn today, blowing open the doors of houses with explosives and arresting 13 members of the Palestinian security services.

Witnesses also reported another raid in the village of Burkin, near Jenin, where Israeli soldiers apparently failed to arrest a wanted Hamas activist.

Israel has been conducting almost daily raids in the West Bank since it ended its six-week military invasion of the area earlier this month.