Six Palestinians suspected of collaboration with Israel have been arrested in the Gaza Strip by the Palestinian Authority security forces...

...The PA security forces have in recent months stepped up their efforts to track down Palestinians suspected of tipping off Israel about the whereabouts of wanted activists. The move follows a series of Israeli assassinations of top Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah gunmen in the Gaza Strip.

The PA has been under heavy pressure to order a crackdown on suspected collaborators, with the armed groups threatening to take the law into their hands.

Last month a Palestinian policeman lobbed a hand grenade at a prison cell in Gaza City where several suspected collaborators were being held.

Six inmates were wounded in the attack. Three of them were later executed by masked men in their hospital beds.

The PA's daily Al-Ayyam reported that 56 Palestinians were now standing trial in the Gaza Strip on charges of collaboration with Israel. A PA court is expected to resume its hearing in their case early next month.

One of the defendants has been accused with assisting Israel in the assassination of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi in Gaza City earlier this year.

"We will continue to deal with an iron fist with anyone who collaborates with Israel," said a PA security official. "We have been given a free hand by the Palestinian leadership to launch a massive crackdown on these traitors who are helping the enemy carry out its crimes against our people. There will be no mercy for them.