Jerusalem: In one of the biggest incursions in recent times, Israeli forces under the cover of missile-firing helicopters entered deep into Gaza City killing at least 12 Palestinians and injuring scores.

Israeli tanks rumbled into Gaza's neighbourhood colony Zaitoun, considered to be a stronghold of the militant Islamic Hamas, from three directions late January 25 night.

Twelve Palestinians were killed and 51 wounded, eight critically, hospital sources said, as helicopter warships fired at crowds in the streets, including Palestinian security personnel, during the incursion, deepest in five months.

Tanks were seen a kilometre away from Palestine Square, which marks the centre of the Gaza City, witnesses said.

Israeli military sources said their troops came under heavy fire from Palestinians with assault rifles, anti-tank missiles and explosives.

They also blew up houses of three Hamas militants involved in an attack on a Jewish settlement in Gaza.

Before pulling out on January 26 morning, the forces also stormed many office and residential buildings, as mosques blared out messages calling on Palestinians to resist the incursion.

The latest incursion enacted the bloodiest day in the Gaza Strip since August, when 13 people were killed in an Israel attack on the Southern city of Khan Younis.

The fresh flare-up comes three days ahead of the Israeli general elections, in which Right-wing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who is running for re-election on a platform of tough military reprisals against Palestinians, is predicted to win.

PTI