The Israeli army killed a senior Hamas activist in the West Bank last night.
Israelis arrived at the home of Amjad Hanawi (34) a senior Hamas military commander in the northern West Bank, shortly after midnight.
The soldiers reportedly ordered Hanawi's family out of the house, but although most members came out of the house, Hanawi refused and tried to escape. He was shot as he tried to climb a fence. Neighbours claimed that army dogs attacked several family members.
Hamas members drove through the streets of Nablus, announcing Hanawi's death over loudspeakers. A funeral was planned for later this morning.
Israeli military officials did say there had been an arrest raid in Nablus overnight and claimed that one person opened fire on troops and tried to escape before being shot.
The killing threatened to raise tensions as dignitaries from around the world gathered in Israel to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin by a Jewish ultranationalist.