Israeli troops killed a Hamas activist in a West Bank raid today as part of its new offensive against the Islamic militant group.

Israeli troops have reoccupied Bethlehem after a suicide bomber from the West Bank town blew up a bus in Jerusalem.

Two Israeli soldiers and a Palestinian security official have died in the latest round of violence in Israel.

Israeli forces entered the Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem briefly early today, Israeli military sources said.

Israeli tanks and soldiers have begun withdrawing from the West Bank town of Bethlehem after a four-day invasion.