Gaza City: In the first attack since the formal breakdown of a ceasefire, Israeli helicopters gunships, on August 24 killed four Palestinians, including two militants of the radical group Hamas.

Among the dead was Ahmed Shtaui, considered the liaison between the radical group Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority, and long wanted by the Israeli authorities, according to Israeli public radio.

Another victim was identified as Wahid al-Hams, also a member of Ezzedine al-Qassam, the armed wing of Hamas.

Israeli radio said the two others killed were members of Force 17, an elite unit attached to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Several people were also wounded in the night-time attack in the Rimal neighbourhood of Gaza City near the Mediterranean Sea and the Gaza offices of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Israeli officials said.

The air assault broke a relative weekend lull and came despite efforts by the Palestinian Authority to take the initiative in reining in the hardliners, including shutting down tunnels used to supply them with arms.

Agencies