1:56pm UK, Friday July 23, 2004

Two Palestinians have been killed in a missile attack in Gaza City.

180 Palestinians&destroyed car israeli attack gaza

Palestinians gather around destroyed car

One of the dead included a leader of the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, the radical movement said.   

Witnesses say an Israeli helicopter fired a missile into a car cutting the vehicle in two in the Zeitun area of Gaza City.   

The district is known as a stronghold of Islamic militants, who have been frequently targeted by Israeli forces.   

Palestinian medics said a third person was wounded.   

On Tuesday, Israeli helicopters wounded two Palestinians in a missile strike on the home of a militant leader in the Shahti refugee camp outside Gaza City.   

Israel has killed many senior militants as well as bystanders in missile strikes that it calls pre-emptive action against suicide bombers targeting Israelis in a Palestinian revolt launched in occupied territories in 2000.