61.   A large Israeli army force backed by armoured vehicles struck at Palestinian police positions Thursday inside the Gaza self-rule area, witnesses said.

62.   But hundreds of youths skirted the police positions to confront the troops.

63.   The sources said the Israeli troops also destroyed three Palestinian police positions in Deir al-Balah.

64.   Israeli navy ships opened fire with machineguns on two Palestinian police positions on the coastal city, although there were no injuries, they said.

65.   The helicopters turned their heavy machineguns on Palestinian police positions last week in Ramallah and the Gaza Strip, drawing harsh criticism from the European Union and other governments.