Israel steps up pressure on Gaza

Several Palestinians were injured in the Israeli strikes on Rafah

Four Palestinians have been killed and several others injured in fresh Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

Israel has stepped up attacks following suicide bombings in the port of Ashdod on Sunday which killed 10 Israelis.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Israel was trying to destroy Gaza before it pulls out of the territory.

His comments came as the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met senior security officials to discuss his withdrawal plan.

They (Israelis) want to destroy Gaza before they leave it, but our people do not kneel Yasser Arafat Palestinian leader Clashes herald battle for Gaza

In the latest violence, three civilians and a gunman died in two separate missile attacks on the southern Rafah refugee camp early on Wednesday, Palestinian witnesses said.

Israeli military sources said missiles were fired at militants planting bombs on a road used by Israeli vehicles.

Mr Arafat accused Israel of trying to wreak destruction in the run up to its expected withdrawal from Gaza.

"They (Israelis) want to destroy Gaza before they leave it, but our people do not kneel," Mr Arafat said in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

Rafah attack

In the second attack on Wednesday, Israeli helicopter gunships targeted a group of fighters who had gathered near the site of an Israeli ground operation in Rafah, Palestinian witnesses said.

It is unclear how the bombers managed to enter the port of Ashdod

Just several hours earlier, Israeli tanks, jeeps and bulldozers moved into Rafah, where they encountered stiff resistance, witnesses said.

During the operation, troops identified a group of men trying to lay explosive charges to counter Israeli forces who frequently raid the camp, Israeli military sources said.

In the first Israeli strike, two missiles were fired from a helicopter gunship, slamming into a house and killing two men - one of whom is said to have been a member of a militant group, the Popular Resistance Committee.

Local medics said at least eight people had been injured in the attack.

'Weapons factories'

Israeli military sources said the army had tried to uncover tunnels used by the Palestinians to smuggle arms from Egypt into the Gaza Strip.

On Tuesday, Israeli forces attacked another camp outside Gaza City, killing two Palestinians and wounding 12 others.

Israeli officials said two weapons factories were destroyed in the assault, targeting the Islamic Jihad group.

After Sunday's bombing in Ashdod, Mr Sharon cancelled a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, which had been tentatively set for this week.