13 Palestinians killed in Israeli sweep of Gaza Strip.(Chicago Tribune)

Byline: Joel Greenberg

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip _ An Israeli army sweep for militants in a crowded Gaza City neighborhood set off an hours-long gun battle Thursday that left 13 Palestinians dead, including a 2-year-old boy, a day after the release of a new Middle East peace initiative.

Three more Palestinians were killed in armed clashes in the West Bank, the army said.

The armored incursion into Gaza, 24 hours after a deadly suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, indicated that Israel was intent on pursuing its campaign against the militants even after the presentation of the internationally backed plan, known as the road map, to end more than 2 { years of violence and establish a Palestinian state by 2005.

"Israeli military moves in Gaza are not based on political considerations but on operational needs," said Dore Gold, an adviser to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. "As long as Israel faces an imminent threat of suicide bombings and the Palestinian security services are completely ineffective, Israel will do what is necessary to defend its population. Once we see a change on the Palestinian side and a serious assumption of security responsibility, Israel will reciprocate."

During the raid, Israeli troops surrounded the family home of three Hamas militants, killing them and blowing up the building after lengthy exchanges of fire in which both gunmen and unarmed civilians were killed and dozens were injured.

Secretary of State Colin Powell, on a visit to Spain, urged the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to halt the violence and "to find the peaceful way forward."