Palestinian police have released a number of Islamic militants arrested after Thursday's suicide bombing in Gaza which killed an Israeli soldier.

They include Ismail Haniyah, a leading member of HAMAS.

Hundreds of militants were rounded up after the bombing, and the HAMAS leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, was placed under house arrest.

The Israelis have expressed doubts about the willingness of the Palestinians to take effective action against HAMAS, and have warned that further attacks could upset the peace accord reached in the United States earlier this month.