Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip ? Israeli tank shells landed in a residential neighborhood north of the town of Beit Hanoun early today, killing at least 18 people in their sleep, according to witnesses.

Palestinian hospital officials said there were several more injured. According to witnesses, many of those killed were women and children.

Hundreds gathered outside the Kamal Adwan hospital, weeping as bodies arrived. Witnesses said that many of the dead arrived in their sleeping clothes.

Four hospitals were treating the wounded across Gaza.

Palestinian security officials said that five tank shells landed in the area within 15 minutes.

The Israeli army said it was unaware of an incident in the area but was checking.

The shelling came after Israeli attacks in Gaza and the West Bank killed at least 15 people following a pullout from Beit Hanoun, a northern Gaza town, at the end of a bloody weeklong sweep.

Israeli forces also attacked a group of Palestinian militants near the West Bank town of Jenin early Wednesday, killing four and a civilian, Palestinian security officials said.

The Israeli military said it was checking the report.

President Mahmoud Abbas denounced Israel for continuing attacks after leaving Beit Hanoun. “If Israel appeals for security and stability, shedding the blood of Palestinians is not the way,” he said.

At the same time, Palestinian leaders struggled to find a formula for a new government, with the aim of ending eight months of crippling aid sanctions imposed by the West after Hamas, which is committed to Israel’s destruction, won legislative elections.

A second day of talks Tuesday between Abbas, a moderate who leads the Fatah movement, and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas did not produce an accord, but Abbas remained hopeful. “I hope that we will reach to a conclusion within days, or maybe within less than days,” Abbas said.