An Israeli missile strike killed at least two Hamas gunmen in Gaza City yesterday, a day after a top commander of the Islamic militant group was killed in a similar attack, Palestinian witnesses and security sources said.

Tensions have increased in Gaza since Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced a plan to withdraw troops and settlers by the end of next year from the narrow coastal strip captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war.

Militants hope to make the army withdraw under fire. Israel is determined to crush armed groups before leaving and vowed to target leaders of Hamas after the group carried out a suicide bombing that killed 16 Israelis last month.

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