Israeli undercover troops hiding in a van loaded with vegetables killed a top Hamas resistance leader in a roadside ambush Monday, and another group of occupation soldiers blew up the house of a suspected Hamas bomb maker and fatally shot two Palestinians in a separate operation. The occupation army actions came as Israeli leaders pledged a crackdown on Hamas, the Palestinian resistance group that killed four occupation soldiers in a weekend bombing of a tank in Gaza. Hamas has carried out many of the attacks against Israeli occupation targets in the past 29 months of fighting, and says it will not stop despite renewed cease-fire talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

In all, 14 Palestinians were killed Sunday and Monday, most of them in the Gaza Strip. The dead included six Hamas members who died in a mysterious explosion Sunday. It remained unclear Monday whether the blast was caused inadvertently by activists handling explosives or if Israel targeted the group.

Hamas Vows Revenge

Tens of thousands of mourners attended their funerals Monday, and Hamas said it would step up attacks on Israel. "The crime against our fighters will not pass without ... punishment from Hamas and the Palestinian people," said Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a senior Hamas figure.

In the Israeli ambush Monday, occupation troops emerged from a blue van loaded with vegetables as the Hamas resistance leader, Riyad Abu Zeid traveled in a black Honda along Gaza's coastal road. In an exchange of gunfire, the 32-year-old Abu Zeid was shot and seriously wounded, the occupation army said. The Israeli occupation troops seized Abu Zeid, who died as he was being taken by helicopter to an Israeli hospital, the occupation army added.

A Palestinian taxi driver, who gave only his first name, Mohammed, said two Palestinian men in the Honda were hit in the shooting, and an Israeli occupation army ambulance took them away. One was apparently killed at the scene and the other was wounded, he said. The Honda's windshield was riddled with bullet holes, and blood covered the front passenger seat.

The second man was believed to be a bodyguard for Abu Zeid, but his name and condition were not known.

The occupation army described Abu Zeid as a senior member of Hamas' military wing who had organized attacks against Israeli occupation targets in the Gaza Strip and resistance bombings in Israel. He was planning additional attacks, the occupation army said, without giving details.

Occupation Army Enters Sheikh Radwan Neighborhood, Demolishes Activist's Home

In the other Israeli occupation army operation in Gaza, about 35 tanks, escorted by helicopter gunships, entered the Sheik Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City early Monday.

Troops surrounded the five-story family home of Ahmed Ghandour, a top aide to Hamas bomb maker Adnan al-Ghoul. Israel believes Ghandour, who remains in hiding, was responsible for planning the weekend attack on the Israeli tank.

Occupation troops ordered everyone out of the targeted building and adjacent homes and took the men away, witnesses said. Then occupation soldiers sent dogs inside to see if anyone was left behind. Neighbors were ordered to leave their windows open to help absorb the shock of the explosion, which flattened Ghandour's house and damaged several surrounding homes.

During the five-hour incursion, Palestinian resistance men attacked Israeli occupation soldiers, who returned fire, the occupation army said. A Palestinian policeman and a suspected activist were killed, hospital officials said. Five civilians, including a doctor, were reported wounded.

Israel has been blowing up houses of suspected resistance activists in an attempt to deter them from attacking Israelis.

Palestinians and human rights groups charge such actions violate international law and constitute collective punishment.

New Efforts to Negotiate a Ceasefire

The violence erupted amid new efforts to negotiate a cease-fire. Israel and the Palestinians sent delegations to London on Monday to meet with members of the so-called Quartet of Mideast mediators - the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia.

On Sunday, Sharon met with Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayad, his second session with senior Palestinian officials in recent days after a long freeze in contacts.

Fayad, in a telephone interview from London, said he met with Sharon to discuss financial issues, including the transfer of tax money collected by Israel for the Palestinian Authority.

PHOTO CAPTION

Hamas activists carry four of six bodies of Hamas martyrs during their funeral in Gaza city, Monday Feb. 17, 2003. (AP Photo/Adel