GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Crowds of Palestinian Arabs greeted a convoy of ambulances bringing home the bodies yesterday of 15 terrorists killed in clashes with Israelis – an Israeli gesture understood by Gazans as the first concrete benefit of a new truce.

While Gazans were celebrating this boost for Palestinian Arab leader Mahmoud Abbas, who is trying to prevent militants from sabotaging the cease-fire, Israeli troops in the volatile West Bank city of Hebron shot and killed a Palestinian they said tried to stab a soldier.

On Thursday, the last time a Palestinian Arab was killed by Israeli forces, the terrorist group Hamas fired dozens of mortars and rockets on Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip, endangering the truce declared February 8. Hamas and the Islamic Jihad terrorist group have since pledged to halt attacks against Israel but have stopped short of accepting the truce announced by Mr. Abbas and Prime Minister Sharon.

Also, last-minute disagreements are holding up the handover of Jericho to Palestinian Arab control.

In Gaza City, tens of thousands of Palestinian Arabs poured into the streets as 15 ambulances carrying the bodies of the terrorists rolled into Gaza City’s main square, escorted by Palestinian Arab security. Dozens of armed men stood in the square, raising the banners of their factions and saluting the bodies.

A sign bearing the name of the dead man inside was affixed to the windshield of each ambulance, and the Palestinian Arab police band played the Palestinian Arab national anthem as the convoy proceeded. The terrorists were killed in attacks on Israeli army outposts in Gaza and other Israeli targets over the past two years. It was not clear why Israel kept the remains.

This latest overture is to be followed in the next few days with an Israeli release of 500 Palestinian Arab prisoners and the handover of Jericho, the first of five West Bank towns that Israel has promised to restore to Palestinian Arab control. However, Palestinian Arabs said disagreements over removal of roadblocks is delaying the transfer, tentatively set for today or tomorrow.

Israel put off the handover after meetings yesterday failed to resolve issues like the size of the territory to be transferred and the placement of Israeli roadblocks, the Haaretz daily reported.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Arab policemen, who have been given the task of restraining terrorists, say they can’t or won’t do the job. Interviewed at their front-line positions, some say they feel sympathy for the gunmen, while others say they fear getting shot at by Israeli troops.

The shortcomings of Palestinian Arab police were evident last week when officers stood by as Hamas terrorists fired dozens of rockets and mortar rounds at Jewish settlements in Gaza. Officers also did nothing when gunmen broke into Gaza’s central jail, killing two inmates and abducting a third who was later slain.

The poor performance is a result of years of rampant corruption, rivalries among commanders of numerous police forces set up by the late Yasser Arafat, and a lack of discipline and training. The result is Mr. Abbas must depend largely on the good will of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other terrorist groups to uphold a fragile truce with Israel.