Hamas activist killed in West Bank
A Hamas activist has been killed in the West Bank.
Israeli soldiers shot dead the activist in Hebron, according to Palestinian security officials. The army did not immediately comment.
Meanwhile two Palestinian leaders are facing an investigation by Israeli police after being arrested earlier.
The leading Palestinian officials and their aides were arrested in Jerusalem after the government banned them from holding what it said was a "nationalist" gathering.
Those detained included the Palestine Liberation Organisation's top representative in east Jerusalem, Sari Nusseibeh, and Hatem Abdel Khader, the local leader of Fatah, Yasser Arafat's movement.
Police spokesman Kobi Zariyahu says an investigation has been started against Nusseibeh and the others for allegedly violating a government order not to hold the reception in east Jerusalem.
Nusseibeh, a philosophy professor, said the Israeli move was politically motivated.
The latest moves came after Yasser Arafat told militants they must halt all "terrorist activity" in a televised speech.
Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip appeared to immediately challenge the ceasefire call when they fired a mortar at a Jewish settlement late last night, Israel's army said.
No injuries were reported, and Palestinian security denied a mortar was fired.
