At least six Israelis have been shot dead in a Palestinian ambush, the latest fatalities in a wave of violence that has claimed at least 22 lives since Monday.

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, which is linked to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction, reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack on an Israeli military checkpoint near Ramallah. The attack occurred in an area of the West Bank still occupied by Israel.

Earlier today (Tuesday), a Palestinian suicide bomber tried to force himself onto an Israeli bus in the West Bank that was packed with at least 50 passengers. He was pushed back by the driver and the bomb exploded, killing only the attacker.

Israel also launched more air strikes to retaliate for earlier Palestinian attacks in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

An Israeli helicopter gunship killed two members of the Islamic militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip refugee camp of Jabalya -- and wounded about six students at a nearby school. Hamas is vowing revenge.

Palestinian officials say Israeli shelling of Khan Yunis in Gaza killed three Palestinians. Israeli troops killed four other Palestinians during armed encounters in Gaza and at a West Bank refugee camp, Balata.

Twelve Palestinians and at least 10 Israelis have died in this latest surge of violence. 

(AFP, AP, Buel CR, prev)

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