GAZA, Feb 21: Israeli helicopter gunships and warships attacked Palestinian positions across the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Thursday in a new wave of reprisals, killing nine Palestinians and hitting Yasser Arafat’s headquarters.

The second successive day of fierce bombardments came in response to Tuesday’s killing of six Israeli soldiers in a Palestinian ambush. This week has seen the heaviest sustained violence yet in a nearly 17-month-old uprising against Israeli occupation.

The fighting — in which 38 Palestinians, including two suicide bombers, and 10 Israelis have been killed since Monday — has left international peace efforts in tatters and prompted talk of all-out war.

Despite that, Arafat reiterated his December 16 call for Palestinians to cease fire, and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said during a visit to Spain that he saw no alternative to a negotiated solution.

Shortly after Arafat spoke, Israel broke an afternoon lull in its attacks when helicopters fired missiles at security compounds in Gaza City and the southern Gaza Strip, just minutes before Prime Minister Ariel Sharon started a nationally televised news conference.

Hospital officials said at least five people were wounded.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, whose country holds the European Union’s rotating presidency, called the situation “practically (one) of war” and said it would be hard for the European Union’s to put forward any peace initiative in the current climate.—Agencies