Israel calls hundreds of troops

She did not say how many reserves had been called up. Military sources put the number at several hundred but fewer than 1,000.

Violence has increased in recent weeks. Islamic militants spearheading a three-year-old uprising for statehood have carried out more suicide bombings and Israel has stepped up military raids to track and kill the militants.

The bloodshed, including a bomb attack which killed three American security guards in Gaza on Wednesday, has stalled a US-led peace ‘‘road map’’ intended to end the violence and establish an independent Palestinian state in 2005.

Three members of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement flew to Washington on Sunday to discuss proposals for a truce with US government Opposition leaders. Hatem Abdel-Qader, Ahmed Ghneim and Qaddoura Fares said they would try to secure US guarantees to reach a mutual ceasefire. Abdel-Qader said they had been invited by Democrat members of Congress.

The planned talks are touted to be the most prominent by Palestinians held in Washington since former Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas met President George W. Bush in July. Abdel-Qader said the delegation also has meetings planned with American Jewish leaders, David Satterfield, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs and Dennis Ross, a former Wst Asia envoy who heads a think-tank called the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

An Israeli official said the delegation to Washington was trying to ‘‘revive a dead horse’’.

The Army said on Sunday militants had fired eight Qassam rockets from Gaza towards the town of Sderot in southern Israel but there were no reports of any damage or casualties.

Troops withdrew on Sunday from the Brazil refugee camp, where witnesses said about 20 buildings had been damaged or destroyed, but remained in nearby Rafah refugee camp. (Reuters)