Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinians and carried out air strikes across the Gaza Strip in response to the killing of three soldiers in an ambush this morning. A Palestinian woman also died from a heart attack during Israeli raids.
The Israeli air strikes destroyed a Gaza City foundry as well as several homes in the Rafah refugee camp. A mosque was also damaged in the attack that wounded four people. A sixth missile struck a church built in 1882 and that now houses a hospital.
With just four days to go to Israel's general election, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon kept up his policy of severe reprisals for Palestinian militancy as tanks backed by gunhsips rolled into several towns in the Gaza Strip.
Roused by calls from mosque loudspeakers, local gunmen clashed with troops but there were no reports of casualties.
Palestinian militants had killed the three soldiers in the West Bank late last night in an ambush on an army patrol on a road used by Jewish settlers near Hebron. The Islamic militant group Hamas claimed responsibility for both actions.
Palestinians also attacked Israeli homes, firing five rockets from Gaza into the town of Sderot, across the Israeli border. Another hit a crossing on the Israel-Gaza border. No serious damage or casualties were reported.
Hours after the rocket attacks on Israel, tanks rolled into Beit Hanoun, a Gaza town near the border with Egypt which militants have used as a launch site for rocket attacks in the past.
Mr Sharon and his party are leading the election, according to all opinion polls, with his tough Palestinian policy popular with voters.
The new Labour leader, Mr Amram Mitzna, has made little headway in the opinion polls with his policy of resuming talks with Palestinian president Yasser Arafat even if violence continues.
The election takes place on Tuesday, and, despite corruption scandals around Mr Sharon, opinion polls show he will be returned as prime minister.
Wire services