GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Palestinian militants blew up an Israeli armored personnel carrier today, killing six Israeli soldiers in one of the fiercest battles in Gaza City in recent months. Seven Palestinians were killed and 110 wounded in the fighting.

For more than 15 hours, explosions and machine gun fire from tanks and helicopters were heard across Gaza City, and gray smoke rose into the air. The army had entered the crowded Zeitoun neighborhood in search of weapons workshops.

An Israeli helicopter gunship also fired a missile at a car in Gaza City, killing one Palestinian and wounding six, witnesses said. Six other Palestinians died in exchanges of gunfire.

The death of six soldiers - the highest casualty count in a single army operation in nearly two years - was expected to increase public pressure on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to withdraw Israeli troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip. Sharon is pushing for a withdrawal, but the plan was vetoed by his Likud Party in a referendum last week.

The armored personnel carrier blew up around 6:30 a.m. as it was on its way out of Gaza City. The vehicle was packed with about 220 pounds of explosives for use in blowing up weapons workshops.