After an extremely tense night in areas throughout the West Bank and Gaza, clashes have erupted all over the occupied Palestinian territories in protest at yesterday's unprecedented Israeli attacks, which continued through the night.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported further Israeli attacks in Gaza this morning.
Despite Israeli warnings before yesterday's attacks being given to the Palestinian Authority, many Palestinian civilians were unprepared for the events.
Following yesterday's warnings, Palestinian Authority officials immediately visited schools to close them down, telling the teachers and children to go home quickly. Parents rushed to schools to try and find their children, but in the mass hysteria that followed, many children were lost in the confusion, which led to large traffic jams.
Palestinian organisations report widespread fear and shock among the population following the rocket attacks on Palestinian cities.
Reuters reports that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said today that he had ordered an inquiry into the mob killing of two captive Israeli soldiers, but did not confirm that he had ordered the arrest of some of those responsible.
The Ananova news agency reports that Israeli Cobra helicopters have been hovering over the Gaza City port today as tension mounted. The helicopters, which bombed targets yesterday, did not fire. Today, from the shore, Israeli gunboats are visible again positioned along the Mediterranean Sea border of Gaza.
The BBC reports that Israeli reserve troops have been mobilised and all leave cancelled. Israel Radio says that, if the violence persists, the army will be authorised to seize strategically-important positions in areas directly controlled by the Palestinians.
Brief clashes erupted earlier in Jerusalem today after Friday noon prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Hundreds of Palestinians under 45 were barred from entering the mosque compound for the prayers, and prayed instead by the roadside. Ten injuries were reported in the Hizma neighbourhood as a result of these clashes.
Armed confrontations are currently taking place in Ramallah, Hebron, Tulkarem, Rafah, and Jenin. Israeli security forces are enforcing a strict blockade of the occupied Palestinian territories, with tanks encircling Palestinians cities.
Reports from Bethlehem, where clashes are taking place near the Israeli outpost at Rachel's Tomb, cite a number of injuries, including one person who is in critical condition after receiving live ammunition to the head.
In Hebron, according to Ha'aretz newspaper, shots were fired towards the Psagot settlement and Israeli troops and Israeli settlers fired at stone throwers. Addameer has learnt of at least 17 injuries from live ammunition in Hebron so far today, three of which are reportedly in critical condition.
The total number of injuries from last night's Israeli attacks in Ramallah was reported to be 30. Clashes currently are taking place near the northern entrance to Ramallah, edging onto the Al-Bireh Industrial Zone. At 3:30pm Palestinian Time (GMT+2), Israeli tanks fired three missiles into the Zone over a period of 15 minutes.
Eyewitnesses report that one man in Ramallah, shot with live ammunition from a heavy machine gun, had his leg completely severed by the ammunition.