Sixteen Palestinians were killed during a major Israeli offensive on the southern Gaza Strip as MPs began yesterday to debate a planned pullout from the territory, medical and security sources said. Another 70 Palestinians were injured and two Israeli troops badly wounded in the raid that started late Sunday, sources on both sides said. The bloody operation, which the army said was aimed at halting mortar fire at Jewish settlements and military positions in Gaza, was launched just hours before the Israeli parliament was to debate the controversial pullout from the Palestinian territory next year. The plan is to be put to the vote today. The victims, among them an eight-year-old boy, died in either air strikes or from gunfire and tank shelling in the town of Khan Younis. Most of the air strikes took place early yesterday, but medical and security sources said that three people were wounded in a helicopter raid shortly after 6:30pm (1630 GMT). It was not immediately clear if most of the dead were civilians or militants, in the incursion which saw around 30 Israeli armoured vehicles and seven bulldozers enter an 800-metre section of Khan Younis, occupying an entire neighbourhood. The raid occurred just 10 days after Israeli troops wrapped up a major operation in the northern Gaza Strip that left 130 Palestinian dead. Troops also razed three buildings, leaving nearly 60 people homeless, Palestinian security sources said. Israeli military sources confirmed destroying at least one building which they said was the home of Mohammed Sinwar, a local leader of the Hamas movement who it said was responsible for attacks on Jewish settlements in the area. Meanwhile, Israel said it will permit Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to leave the West Bank city of Ramallah to receive medical treatment without indicating whether he would be allowed back. Israel TV report said Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz gave the go-ahead for Arafat to leave Ramallah. Doctors said the 75-year-old Palestinian leader has been suffering from the flu. But Palestinian officials denied the report and said that Arafat is on the mend and does not need to leave his West Bank compound for medical treatment. "It is unfounded that President Arafat requested to go to a Ramallah hospital," Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said. **PHOTO CAPTION*** A wounded Palestinians boy is rushed into Nassir hospital after he was shot during an Israeli raid at Khan Younis refugee camp in southern Gaza Strip, October 25, 2004. (Reuters)