Israeli tanks and troops swept into two Palestinian towns and a village today, witnesses said, a day after Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon repeated his pledge to end the offensive as quickly as possible.
Speaking in Jerusalem shortly after the latest incursion, US Secretary of State expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in the Jenin refugee camp and other autonomous Palestinian areas.
Mr Powell, who started a cease-fire mission two days ago, called on Israeli forces to show "utmost restraint".
According to witnesses 60 Israeli army vehicles entered Arabe, south of the city of Jenin, where they imposed a curfew early this morning. The army also declared curfews after rolling into the town of Hashmiyah, northwest of Jenin, and Birqin village, west of the city.
The Israeli army have made no comment about the incursions which follow a suicide bombing that killed six Israelis in Jerusalem yesterday.
At a news conference with Mr Powell last night, Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon repeated his pledge to end the offensive as quickly as possible but gave no specific date for a withdrawal.
Meanwhile Israel's supreme court has ordered the army not to bury the bodies of Palestinians in the Jenin refugee camp amid charges of a massacre there, public radio reported this morning.
The order comes after allegations that Israeli troops were using bulldozers to make mass graves and cover up a "massacre" during the fierce week-long battle at the camp which ended Thursday.
The Israeli army has dismissed the claim as Palestinian propaganda. The camp is off limits to reporters, making claims impossible to verify independently. The matter was brought up to the courts by Israeli Arab MPs.
The Palestinians have appealed to the United Nations for help and have asked Mr Powell to visit the camp while he is in the region.
The Israeli army says it believes 250 Palestinians were killed. The Palestinians say it was at least double that number.
AFPand