Six Palestinians killed in Gaza

'Most wanted' suspect reported arrested

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- At least six Palestinians were killed by Israeli troops in separate incidents in Gaza, as Palestinian police reportedly arrested a suspect on an Israeli "most wanted" list.

Three Palestinians were shot by Israeli Special Forces at Beit Hanoun in the Northern Gaza, the Israeli Army said. It's not clear what precipitated the killings, but Israel said that weapons were later found on the bodies.

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Earlier, three other Palestinians were shot and killed, Israeli and Palestinian officials confirmed. The army said it returned fire when the gunmen attacked an armored personnel carrier at the Alei Sinai settlement in northern Gaza.

Palestinian officials said they couldn't confirm any of the men had been carrying weapons. They said Israeli authorities had custody of the bodies.

The killings promped Palestinians to accuse Israel of trying to derail the peace process.

"These two incidents in Gaza prove Israelis don't want calm," a senior Palestinian security official said. "They're trying to provoke a Palestinian reaction in order to destroy the peace efforts."

Meanwhile, Palestinian police arrested a Hamas militant wanted by Israel, Palestinian security sources said.

Moussa Kullab was one of 33 suspected militants named on an Israeli "most wanted" list that U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni gave to Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat.

At least 11 people on the list have been arrested, according to Israeli sources. Palestinians said they have arrested at least 18.

Hamas is an Islamic fundamentalist group known among Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza for humanitarian actions such as building schools, hospitals and helping the community in social and religious ways. Hamas' military wing, Izzedine al Quassam, has carried out military and terrorist operations against Israelis.

Arafat has come under increasing pressure from the United States, Israel and Europe to crack down on terrorists in territory under Palestinian control since the latest string of suicide attacks began in Israel in early December.

Following Arafat's call for a cease-fire, Hamas announced December 21 that it would suspend suicide attacks inside Israel. In response, the Israeli government rejected what it said were "mixed messages" from the Palestinians and said Hamas remains a serious threat.