Five Palestinians have been killed following an Israeli raid into Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip.
Palestinian officials identified the dead as four civilians, including a medic, and a gunman. Witnesses said it was the biggest Israeli raid in the area since ceasefire talks involving the Palestinian Authority and militants broke down last weekend.
At least 17 Palestinians were wounded, including four children, a medical worker and several gunmen, doctors at Rafah hospital said.
An Israeli military source said troops were on a mission to detain a wanted Islamic Jihad militant and returned fire after encountering resistance from gunmen who attacked them with anti-tank missiles and automatic weapons.
Witnesses said infantry and 20 armoured vehicles, including tanks, took part in the early morning raid as helicopters flew overhead.
Colonel Pinhas Zuarez, commander of the operation, said his forces took the wanted man, Khaled al-Qadi of Islamic Jihad, into custody after he tried to flee.
"He had planted numerous explosive charges on the road (leading to) the border terminal (with Egypt) and also was involved in planning attempts to infiltrate Israel and carry out attacks," Zuarez told Reuters in Jerusalem by telephone.
The army demolished Qadi's family home before pulling out.
"The soldiers ordered women and children to come out and for the men to remain inside," witness Osama Abdelal told journalists. "Women and children ran outside, weeping and screaming. It was very dark and people were very frightened."
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie described the raid in comments to reporters in the West Bank as a crime and an "ugly aggression against our people".