Israel forces kill 2 Palestinians in West Bank arrest raid

This file photo taken on 21 January, 2021, shows ongoing construction work in the Israeli settlement of Givat Zeev, near the Palestinian city of Ramallah in the occupied West BankAFP

Israeli forces killed two Palestinians after coming under fire during an arrest raid in the northern West Bank, Israeli border police and Palestinian health authorities said Tuesday.

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

"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.

They said as police reached their vehicles, another assailant shot at the forces, "who responded with accurate fire."

The Palestinian health ministry said two men were killed in the fighting. Official news agency Wafa identified them as Abdullah al-Hosari, 22, and Shadi Khaled Najm, 18.

Troops arrested Imad Jamal Abu al-Heija, a freed prisoner, Wafa reported.

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.

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 is considered illegal under international law but are home to some 475,000 Israelis.