Eight Palestinians killed in Gaza

Violence has recently intensified in Gaza

Eight Palestinians have died in confrontations with Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip - six in a military raid and two near a crossing into Israel.

At least two militants were among four Palestinians shot dead, while two others reportedly blew themselves up during the pre-dawn incursion.

Later, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon presented ministers with a plan for a withdrawal from much of Gaza.

Violence has intensified in Gaza since the plan was unveiled last month.

Clashes

The army said two Palestinians shot dead on Sunday night were armed militants who had been planning to carry out an attack on a road used by troops and Jewish settlers near the Kissufim crossing point between Gaza and Israel.

Earlier on Sunday, violence also erupted in the West Bank as Palestinians demonstrated against Israel's controversial barrier.

Troops fired rubber bullets as crowds threw stones during a protest against the barrier at Kharbatha.

Israel says the barrier is vital for its security; Palestinians say it is a device to grab land.

Local Hamas leader Bassem Qdeih and his wife were killed in the pre-dawn raid in the village of Abassan in Gaza.

Hamas said the couple blew themselves up as troops moved in. The Israeli army said soldiers fired at Bassem Qdeih, causing a bag of explosives he was carrying to blow up.

Four other Palestinians were also killed.

The Israeli military said it had suffered no casualties.

Pullout plan

Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat condemned the raid which came on the same day as Mr Sharon presented a plan for withdrawing Jewish settlements from Gaza.

"At a time when everyone is concentrating on disengagement from Gaza, the Israeli army is actually re-engaging and reoccupying Gaza," Mr Erekat said.

Sharon is trying to win support from his party for his Gaza plan

Later on Sunday, Mr Sharon met ministers from his Likud Party, in an effort to gain support for his proposals to withdraw Israeli troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip.

Mr Sharon's finance minister and political rival, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he would back the pullout if Washington announced its opposition to Palestinian demands for the right of refugees to return to Israel.

Mr Netanyahu - a former prime minister - said his support was also conditional on Israel controlling all points of entry into Gaza, and on the completion of West Bank barrier.

The US is reported to be reluctant to back Mr Sharon's proposals until the Israeli government has also voiced its support.