Israel’s Cabinet voted today to release groups of Palestinian prisoners – but Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said the release would be conditional on a Palestinian crackdown against militant groups.

A senior member of the violent Islamic group Hamas was sentenced to death by firing squad today for revealing details to Israel about five leaders of the group’s military wing who were later killed, court officials said.

Israeli Defence Force helicopters are currently attacking the West Bank city of Jenin, according to reports.

Israel has broken off truce talks with the Palestinians after retaliating for an attack on a Jewish settlement which killed two people.

The Israeli army have bombarded Palestinian targets in the northern Gaza Strip, plunging a town into darkness and injuring four people including a 10 year-old boy.