3 Palestinians killed by Israeli soldiers in West Bank

Three Palestinians were killed on Thursday by Israeli soldiers during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Nablus, the Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement, reported Xinhua.

Four other Palestinians were also injured by Israeli soldiers during the clashes that broke out between the soldiers and dozens of young men and gunmen in the city, it added.

Palestinian eyewitnesses and local sources said that a special Israeli undercover force stormed the old city in central Nablus, surrounded a building and clashed with three Palestinians who were hiding inside.

Fierce clashes went on for several hours between the Palestinians and the Israeli soldiers. The three Palestinians were killed inside the building after intensive gunfire and explosions, according to the eyewitnesses.

Israeli military said in a statement on Thursday that Israeli troops killed two Palestinian militants suspected of shooting dead three Israeli settlers in April, and a third gunman who aided the two militants, during a raid on Nablus city in the northern West Bank.

According to the Israeli statement, the three Palestinian militants killed are members of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) armed wing.

On April 7, Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a car outside the settlement of Hamra in the occupied Jordan Valley, killing British-Israeli Lucy Leah Dee and her two daughters Maia and Rina. The suspects fled the scene, prompting a month-long manhunt in order to locate the hideout apartment of the suspects.

Violence in the region has been on the rise after the Israeli army carried out daily raids on Palestinian towns, villages, and refugee camps in the past few months, mainly in the northern West Bank. Israelis claim they want to arrest Palestinian militants wanted by Israeli security forces.

According to official Palestinian figures, the tension between Israelis and the Palestinians has killed more than 100 Palestinians since January. Meanwhile, Israeli sources said that 19 Israelis were killed in attacks carried out by Palestinians in Israel and the West Bank.