Israeli soldiers clashed with Palestinian gunmen in the northern Gaza Strip today, killing one militant, hospital officials said.
In a separate incident overnight, an unidentified Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli troops while approaching the strategic Karni border crossing.
The fresh violence came amid signs of further trouble in unity government talks between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas.
Senior Palestinian officials said Mr Abbas had planned to announce on Saturday that he was naming a US-trained academic, Mohammad Shbair, to replace Haniyeh as prime minister.
But Mr Haniyeh has refused to step aside until a final agreement on a unity government is reached. The talks have bogged down in part over Hamas's insistence on heading the Interior Ministry, which controls several major Palestinian security services.
Palestinian officials said Mr Abbas was expected to meet with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during her visit to Jordan next week.
It is unclear if Mr Abbas will also meet with US President George W. Bush. Palestinians hope a unity government deal will prompt Washington to end its economic embargo of the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.
