Six Palestinians killed in clashes with Israel

GAZA, June 20 (Reuters) Israeli troops killed six Palestinians today, including four in the first deadly clash in the Gaza Strip since Hamas Islamists took control of the territory by force last week.

Several Israeli tanks and troops crossed the border fence into Gaza overnight near the key Kissufim border crossing in the central Gaza Strip, witnesses said.

An army spokesman said the force was searching for wanted militants.

Two Hamas militants, a member of another militant group, the Popular Resistance Committees, and an unidentified gunman were killed in the Gaza gunbattle.

One Israeli soldier was moderately injured in the Gaza clash, an Israeli army spokesman said.

Israeli troops have largely stayed out of Gaza since Hamas's armed wing routed security officials loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in fighting last Thursday.

In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces killed two Palestinian militants in a gunbattle near the city of Jenin.

Palestinian security sources said Israeli forces killed a member of the Islamic Jihad militant group and a Fatah gunman.

REUTERS AGL PM1337