AL KHALIL, April 23: Israel killed a leader of one of the deadliest Palestinian groups on Tuesday as its West Bank campaign shifted back to commando raids.

An Israeli helicopter gunship fired a rocket at the car of Marwan Zallun, killing the local leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, a radical offshoot of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s Fatah group.

Also killed in the attack was Samir Abu Radjeh, 42, a member of Arafat’s Force 17 presidential guard, officials said.

Zallun, 30, had been accused of mounting a series of attacks against Jewish settlers, including one that led to the death of a baby.

He was considered one of the most wanted men on Israel’s list of Palestinians who have organized suicide attacks.

Palestinian radicals responded by taking their revenge on fellow Palestinians accused of assisting the Israeli army, killing three “collaborators” in the centre of Al Khalil.

The bullet-riddled bodies of Mohammed Dababsi, Zoheir al Moqtaseb and Mussa Arjoub were left hanging at the spot where Marwan had been killed by the Israelis.

About 20 men first dragged the victims out of a prison, meeting no resistance from the handful of police on duty. Then they took them to the wreck of the car hit by the Israeli helicopter gunship, and shot them there as a crowd screamed “Revenge, revenge”.

“The gunmen sprayed the collaborators with machinegun fire. Bullets penetrated various parts of their bodies,” a witness said. Men, women and children spat at the bodies as they were dragged through the streets. Then they were strung up on electricity poles.

“This is what these collaborators deserve. They betrayed the nation and have been liquidated,” said one.

Palestinian security sources said Mohammed Dibassah, Zuhair al-Muhtesseb and Moussa Rjoub had been jailed for collaborating with Israel.

“They had admitted to giving information to Israel that led to many deaths of Palestinians,” one security source said.

Witnesses said Palestinian police arrived on the scene after the shootings of the three but stayed on the sidelines as thousands gathered.

“We have to kill all collaborators and cleanse Palestinian society of them,” said a woman, Umm Ussama.

Many of the crowd chanted: “With our blood and soul, we will redeem you, Marwan.”

BURIAL: Marwan and his bodyguard were buried amid deafening bursts of gunfire by masked Palestinian fighters as thousands marched in a funeral procession in the streets of Al Khalil.