Related Event: Middle East After Arafat

Two Palestinians were killed early Wednesday in an exchange of fire with Israeli soldiers near the West Bank town of Ramallah.

It was the first Israeli raid since the weekend election of new Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas who is striving to end the armed uprising.

Palestinian security officials said the two Palestinians were in a house which was the target of a raid by Israeli troops.

Palestinian sources also noted the house belonged to a known Hamas member but the identity of the two dead was not immediately known.

Also on Wednesday, Israeli troops backed by several tanks, armored vehicles and helicopters launched a raid on Gaza City.

Witnesses said the Israeli helicopters fired two missiles at southern Gaza City shortly before the tanks moved in and militants exchanged fire with the Israeli soldiers.

Five Palestinians were arrested, including one Hamas militant.

(Photo source: yahoo.com)

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