Israeli forces kill two Palestinians in West Bank raid

Undercover forces exchange fire with Palestinian fighters exposed during pre-dawn raid, witnesses said

Israeli soldiers take positions during clashes with Palestinians following a protest in the West Bank city of Hebron on February 18. Israeli forces have killed a Palestinian fighter in a raid on the Show more

Israeli forces have killed two Palestinians during an arrest raid in the West Bank, Israeli border police and Palestinian health authorities said on Tuesday.

Israeli officers and undercover police entered the Jenin refugee camp to arrest a suspect “wanted for terrorist activity”, border police said.

“After the arrest of the suspect, as the forces left the house, heavy fire was opened from several directions, and undercover forces operating at the scene responded with live fire," police said.

As police reached their vehicles, another assailant shot at forces "who responded with accurate fire”, they said.

The Palestinian health ministry said two men were killed in the fighting. They were identified as Abdullah Al Hosari, 22, and Shadi Khaled Najm, 18, news agency Wafa reported.

Troops arrested Imad Jamal Abu Al Heija, a freed prisoner, it said.

The news agency said the killing of the two Palestinians sparked a "massive and angry march" in Jenin.

The arrest raid is one of several recent high-profile Israeli incursions into West Bank cities.

Last month, Israeli troops killed three Palestinian suspects during a daylight raid in the northern West Bank city of Nablus.

Earlier in February, in the West Bank, a Palestinian boy was shot dead by the Israeli military after it said three people were throwing firebombs at traffic. Soldiers also shot dead a Palestinian teenager.

Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan in the Six-Day War of 1967.

It has since built a string of settlements across the territory that are considered illegal under international law but are home to some 475,000 Israelis.