Israeli helicopters attack in Gaza

Israeli attack helicopters have fired rockets at police buildings in the area of the Jabaliya refugee camp next to Gaza City.

Palestinian police officials said the Israeli helicopters fired four rockets at the security forces compound in the refugee camp, where about 60,000 Palestinians live.

There was no immediate report of casualties, but ambulances and fire trucks were racing to the scene.

The Israeli military spokesman's office said it was checking the report.

On Monday, Israeli helicopters and tanks fired rockets and shells at Palestinian police posts and armoured vehicles in several parts of the Gaza Strip, signalling an Israeli policy of initiating attacks against Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's official police and security agencies.

Israel claims they are involved in planning and carrying out attacks against Israel.

On the same day, Israeli soldiers killed five Palestinian policemen in a post in the West Bank, apparently believing that they belonged to Mr Arafat's elite Force 17 unit, one of the branches Israel claims has carried out attacks.

It emerged later they were policemen and Israel admitted the attack was a case of mistaken identity.

The renewed violence came as Israeli and Palestinian leaders considered the prospects of renewing peace talks, based on the recommendations of an international commission that studied the reasons for more than seven months of conflict.