Israeli troops swept into the West Bank town of Jenin today, arresting at least 15 Palestinians and trading gunfire with militants.
The army said its troops were conducting routine patrols in the town but would give no further details.
Witnesses said more than 25 armoured vehicles entered the refugee camp in the town and there were sporadic exchanges of fire between gunmen and troops, but no casualties were reported.
Among those detained were Attar Abu Remeli, a local leader from Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah party and two militants from the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a militia loosely affiliated to Fatah.
Also arrested was the father and four brothers of a man who carried out a suicide bombing two years ago, witnesses said.
In another raid, two Islamic Jihad members were arrested in the nearby village of Qabatiya.