Citizens of at least four countries are taking refuge at an office of the Palestinian security services in Gaza City amid threats by gunmen to kidnap foreigners.
Two Australians, two French, a Korean, and American, a Swiss national and one other foreigner were reported kidnapped by militants following an Israeli raid on a West Bank prison this morning.
However, reports this afternoon said that the two Australians teachers have been freed. Witnesses said they were released near a Palestinian police station shortly after their abduction from a school.
British and US monitors left their posts at the jail in Jericho shortly before the Israeli raid. Israeli forces burst into the jail this morning demanding the handover of men, including PFLP leader Ahmed Saadat, who they claim were responsible for the assassination of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi in 2001.
Among those seeking the protection of the Preventive Security Services were citizens of France, Britain, Germany and South Korea, security officials said.
The French Foreign Ministry in Paris said two French nationals were seized. A receptionist at the Dira hotel in Gaza confirmed the abductions and said a Korean national was also taken.
Earlier, gunmen kidnapped a Red Cross official believed to be from Switzerland from his office, a Red Cross staffer said.
An American teacher and one other foreigner were also reported kidnapped.
Agencies