At least four Palestinians have been killed and 20 wounded during an Israeli army operation in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
All four men were in their early 20s and died from gunshot wounds at a Ramallah hospital close to Manara Square where the clashes occurred.
An Israeli army spokesperson said that its forces had conducted 'an arrest operation' and detained four people. The spokesperson declined to give further information.
The incursion came ahead of talks between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the Red Sea town of Sharm el-Sheikh.
The two leaders are meeting as part of efforts to restart the stalled Middle-East peace process.
Earlier, five people were killed during clashes in Gaza between forces from the ruling Hamas group and fighters from Fatah, who are loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas.
It is the worst fighting since the rival Palestinian factions agreed a fragile truce two weeks ago.
Hospital officials said at least nine other people were wounded in separate incidents across the territory.
