Gaza hit by Israeli air strikes

A white pick-up truck was destroyed in the city centre

At least three Palestinians have been killed and 24 others wounded in a series of Israeli air strikes on Gaza City.

Three air raids were launched - and in the second, missiles fired from a helicopter hit a vehicle, killing two Hamas militants and a bystander.

Less than three hours earlier, a missile fired by a fighter plane hit a building believed to be a weapons workshop for the radical group, injuring at least 10 people. No casualties have been reported in the third attack, on farmland near Gaza City.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei condemned the strikes, saying they made it harder for Israel and the Palestinians to hold talks on ending violence.

The military action comes a day after three Israeli soldiers were killed in an ambush near the West Bank town of Ramallah - an attack claimed by the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade.

GAZA RAIDS House hit in Shajaiya: at least 14 wounded Car destroyed in city centre: 3 dead, 10 wounded Building hit near Shajaiya: no casualties

Also on Sunday, mortars were fired from Gaza into southern Israel - no casualties were reported.

At 0800 local time (0600 GMT), Israeli F-16 fighter planes struck in Shajaiya neighbourhood, east of the city centre.

A two-storey building - said to belong to a family with close links to Hamas - was destroyed.

It was initially thought the missile had been meant for the home of Abdullah Shami, a spokesman for Islamic Jihad, who was not there at the time.

But the Israeli army dismissed these suggestions, describing the house as "a Hamas workshop" used to manufacture rockets and other weaponry.

Palestinian rescue workers said at least 14 people - including two children - were injured.

'Big Flame'

Three hours later two missiles were fired on the white Peugeot truck as it was travelling through the centre of Gaza.

These Israeli acts do not help ceasefire talks, they discourage them," Mr Qurei told reporters Ahmed Qurei Palestinian Prime Minister

Two bodies were removed from the wrecked truck, and Hamas sources were later quoted as saying the dead were members of the Hamas military wing.

Another person was killed and seven injured.

Bus driver Ahmed Sobeh said he was driving behind the pickup at the time. "Suddenly, a big flame came from the sky and hit the car in front of me," he said.

"School children were trying to cross the road (at the time) ... I saw a person in the car being evacuated and his body was completely burned.

"I also saw a teenager on the side of the street covered with blood but he was alive."

The third strike took place an hour later, when helicopters attacked a hut in a field north or Shajaiya.

The first Israeli target was said to be a Hamas weapons factory

The building was said to have been empty at the time.

The BBC's James Rodgers in Gaza says the attacks appear to be another attempt by Israel to strike at those it believes are planning attacks on Israeli targets.

The leaders of all the main Palestinian militant groups have been in hiding since the attempts by Israel on their lives.

The Palestinian Authority condemned the latest attacks.

"These Israeli acts do not help ceasefire talks, they discourage them," Mr Qurei told reporters.

"We want the Israeli government to sit down with us and negotiate a ceasefire."