9 Arabs are killed in Gaza

JERUSALEM - Israeli troops killed nine Palestinians in fighting Wednesday in the Gaza Strip, where gunbattles in the town of Beit Lahiya trapped about 4,000 residents of a housing complex indoors for several hours.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian prime minister asked President Bush to reconsider his tacit recognition of some Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia wrote to Bush, saying recent U.S. declarations that Israel could keep some of the West Bank and would not have to absorb Palestinian refugees contradict longstanding U.S. policy.

In new fighting in Gaza, Israeli troops raided the northern town of Beit Lahiya for the second straight day to stop a barrage of homemade rockets fired at Jewish settlements.

Nine Palestinians were killed, including at least three civilians, among them a 15-year-old boy, hospital officials said. At least five of the dead were gunmen, and 27 people were wounded. It was the bloodiest day in Gaza since March 22, when Hamas founder Sheik Ahmed Yassin and 10 other Palestinians were killed.

The rocket salvos were retaliation for the weekend killing of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi by Israel. Hamas threatened "100 unique reprisals," and Sharon said other Hamas leaders would be targeted.

On Wednesday, troops surrounded a housing project in Beit Lahiya.

Bulldozers began demolishing a building under construction, witnesses said, while gunmen exchanged fire with troops.

About 4,000 residents of the housing complex were unable to leave their homes, and the fighting prevented some 3,000 middle and high school students from reaching school, residents said.

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