Fifteen die in Israeli Gaza raids

At least 40 Palestinians were wounded in Gaza City

Israeli troops have killed at least 15 Palestinians and wounded more than 50 in two incursions into the Gaza Strip.

Twelve died when a gun battle broke out as Israeli army units advanced into the eastern part of Gaza City and hundreds came out into the streets.

The Israelis said the raid was aimed at stopping mortar attacks on Jewish settlements in the area.

In another incident near Rafah, three men died in what the army said was an operation to find secret tunnels.

A BBC correspondent says the Israeli army is determined to weaken Palestinian militant groups ahead of the possible evacuation of Jewish settlements in Gaza, proposed last week by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

The incidents follow last week's Gaza Strip raid by the Israeli army, when at least eight Palestinians were killed in clashes - then the deadliest incursion for weeks.

Differing accounts

The deaths in Gaza City occurred during exchanges of fire after Israeli tanks moved into an eastern area of the city early on Wednesday, residents said.

Death toll for recent Gaza raids 11 Feb - 12 Palestinians dead in Gaza City 11 Feb - three Palestinians dead in Rafah 9 Feb - four Palestinians dead 6 Feb - eight Palestinians dead, including four civilians

Palestinian witnesses said they saw the tanks roll into the Shijaia neighbourhood, open fire on a Palestinian police checkpoint and kill a policeman.

According to the Israeli military, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on troops trying to locate militants launching mortar attacks on Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and rocket attacks on southern Israel.

The military sources said the Israeli troops returned fire, resulting in deaths.

An Israeli military spokesman quoted by French news agency AFP said the army had identified "at least 17 hits", without confirming the death toll.

A political leader of the Islamic militant group vowed revenge for the deaths.

At least six of the dead are said to be Palestinian fighters.

Another is reported to be Mohammed Hilles, the son of a senior official from Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement.

The battle reportedly went on for several hours.

The injured included a bodyguard of Sheikh Ahmed Yassim, the Hamas spiritual leader, witnesses said.