At least 12 people have been killed and around 15 injured when Palestinian militants raked Israeli troops and settlers with gunfire in a carefully orchestrated ambush in Hebron – a divided city long plagued by religious tensions and flashes of furious violence.

At least six Palestinians have been killed in an exchange of fire after Israeli troops and tanks moved into the Palestinian-controlled section of the West Bank city of Hebron.

Israel have arrested six members of Yasser Arafat's elite guard, as mourners from both sides buried children killed in the conflict.