At least four Palestinians were killed in fighting in the Gaza Strip today and an Israeli died after a gun attack in the West Bank, officials said.
A Hamas activist died when his car exploded in the West Bank city of Jenin in what the militant Islamic group said was an Israeli assassination that would be avenged, witnesses said.
There was no immediate explanation as to what caused the blast in the city centre. An Israeli army spokesman said the army was checking the incident.
Meanwhile Israeli security officials said the unidentified Israeli was shot yesterday near Surda, north of Ramallah. A few terrorists came to a checkpoint and opened fire, injuring an Israeli who later died, one said. No other details were available.
In the Gaza violence, hospital officials said Massud Abu Jalalah (17) died today after being shot by Israelis and Hassan Mabhooh (18) was killed by a tank shell in confrontations with Israeli soldiers in central Gaza's El Bureij refugee camp.
Another Palestinian pronounced dead by medical officials could not be immediately be identified due to the severity of his facial wounds. Medical staff said eight other Palestinians were wounded in the El Bureij fighting.
Shooting erupted after the Israeli army launched incursions into Palestinian areas in the wake of an attack on one of its tanks on Thursday that killed three soldiers. Palestinian security officials said at least four Israeli tanks drove one km (half a mile) into the camp where they occupied a main Palestinian security position giving commanding views over the area and nearby Palestinian refugee camps.
Eyewitnesses said Israeli tanks fired in the camp towards dozens of Palestinians who hurled stones at the troops.
The Israeli army said it had opened fire after its position had come under massive attack from Palestinians.
It said in a statement that it had seized the regional Palestinian security headquarters and destroyed an infantry training position belonging to Palestinian security forces in southern Gaza near the Jewish settlement of Netzarim as part of its efforts to eradicate terror .
An Israeli army spokesman said troops were also carrying out flattening activities, removing shrubs and other vegetation that could provide cover for future attacks near Netzarim.
The area is near the site of Thursday's deadly attack on the Israeli tank.
The latest violence threatened to overshadow European efforts to end 16 months of bloodshed in the region.
Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat and German Foreign Minister Mr Joschka Fischer were to meet in Ramallah today for talks aimed at ending the conflict in which at least 849 Palestinians and 261 Israelis have died since September 2000.