GAZA Ñ Palestinian insurgents have launched an offensive against Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip.

Two settlements were attacked on late Tuesday. Two people were killed and 15 were injured.

On Wednesday, Israeli troops and tanks were ordered into Palestinian-controlled areas of northern Gaza. Palestinian sources said Israeli forces destroyed 10 positions of PA security forces. The Israeli troops encountered Palestinian gunfire.

Palestinian sources said six Palestinians were killed in the Israeli attack, which continued on Wednesday afternoon. In Gaza City, witnesses reported an explosion. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The two Israelis were killed in a Palestinian attack on the northern Jewish community of Aley Sinai. Israeli military sources said the squad of gunmen opened fire on a home at the edge of the settlement.

Israeli troops responded and a gun battle erupted that lasted for nearly two hours. Two insurgents were killed. The Islamic opposition group Hamas claimed responsibility.

"The violence that has taken place in the area has one address Ñ the Palestinian Authority," Maj. Gen. Doron Almog, head of Israel's military southern command, said. "The reports that the PA has taken a strategic turn are mendacious."

It was the first such attack on a Jewish settlement since the advent of the PA in 1994. The PA condemned the attack.

In the Jewish settlement of Dugit, Palestinian insurgents opened fire.

Several people were injured in what was described as an attack on an Israeli military outpost.

Other attacks were reported on the Jewish settlements of Neve Dekalim and Morag.

On late Tuesday, a Palestinian gunmen fired toward the Jerusalem suburb of Mevasseret Zion. The community is the home of several leading parliamentarians. Israeli sources said the shooting was the first against the community since the Israeli-Palestinian war erupted a year ago.

The Palestinian attacks came as the State Department has denied reports of a new U.S. initiative to resume Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts. The denial was relayed by U.S. ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer to the Israeli government.

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