Israeli troops backed by helicopters encircled a prison in the West Bank town of Jericho where a top Palestinian militant leader is being held.
Two helicopters hovered in the sky above the prison after around 50 jeeps and three tanks pushed into the desert oasis town and took up position. Troops opened fire and the sounds of explosions were heard, an AFP reporter said.
Palestinian security sources said Israeli soldiers swarmed into the security compound, which houses the prison and Palestinian security headquarters.
Israeli troops were seen evacuating Palestinian children and teachers from a school positioned in front of the jail. One large bulldozer was also seen approaching the area, an AFP correspondent said.
Traditionally, there have been few Israeli army operations in Jericho but troops have recently pushed into the town on several occasions after 46 wanted militants were freed from jail on February 9.
Ahmed Saadat, the leader of the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, is among those held inside the Jericho jail, detained in connection with the 2001 assassination of an Israeli minister.
Two days ago, Israel's second television channel reported that Israel was prepared to assassinate the four Palestinians from the PFLP accused of killing tourism minister Rehavam Zeevi if they are released from jail.
Security forces and the army are ready to take immediate action to either ‘eliminate or arrest’ the militants if Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas organises their release from the West Bank's Jericho prison, the report said.
Khaledah Jarrar, an MP for PFLP, said that she had spoken to Saadat who told her that Israeli troops had entered the prison.
‘I spoke with Saadat who told me that Israeli troops had entered the prison but we could no longer talk because the line was cut,’ she said.
Abbas said on March 7 that he was ready to release Saadat, who was voted into parliament in January's Palestinian general election, provided the PFLP took all responsibility for his security.
Abbas has recently said that he feared Saadat could be assassinated by Israel if released from prison.
Israel accuses Saadat, who has been jailed since August 2002 under British-US supervision, of being involved in the killing of Zeevi, who was shot dead by a PFLP militant in 2001.