Palestinian witnesses say Israeli forces have killed at least four militants during a raid in the southern Gaza Strip.

Israeli troops and tanks entered the Khan Younis refugee camp early Thursday, in an operation the army says is aimed at stopping Palestinian militants' mortar and rocket attacks on nearby Jewish settlements.

Meanwhile, Israel's Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Jerusalem Post  that Israel should follow up next year's planned pullout from the Gaza Strip with a much larger withdrawal from the West Bank. Mr. Olmert said he believes such a move would be in Israel's interest.

On Wednesday, interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas called on Israel to dismantle its separation barrier along the West Bank. Mr. Abbas is running in the January 9 presidential election to succeed the late Yasser Arafat.

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.