GAZA, Dec 30: Israeli troops killed five Palestinians on Thursday as tanks pushed into the southern Gaza Strip in what the army called a raid to root out militants behind mortar and rocket fire on Jewish settlements.

Israel moved closer to abandoning the occupied territory as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the opposition Labour party reached a deal that appeared to clear a final obstacle to a unity government able to remove troops and settlers.

An Israeli drone fired missiles into the city of Khan Younis, killing two members of the Hamas militant group and one from al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. The army said they were part of a squad firing at nearby settlements. -Reuters