2 Palestinians killed in Israeli military raid in Nablus

NABLUS, Palestine

Two Palestinians were killed by Israeli army fire during a military raid on Saturday in the West Bank city of Nablus, according to the Health Ministry.

A ministry statement identified the two as Saed Jihad Masheh, 32, and Adnan Wasim Araj, 19 during the raid in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus.

Three other Palestinians, including an elderly woman, were also injured, the statement said.

According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces raided the camp and besieged a house inside, triggering clashes with local residents before withdrawing from the area.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said dozens of Palestinians also suffered temporary asphyxiation from tear gas canisters fired by Israeli forces.

Tensions have been running high across the occupied West Bank in recent months amid repeated Israeli raids into Palestinian towns.

Israeli forces raid Palestinian territories on an almost daily basis, mostly under the pretext of searching for wanted Palestinians.

The raid came as at least 33 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, which Tel Aviv says were in response to rocket fire from the Palestinian territory.

According to Palestinian figures, more than 160 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of this year. At least 20 Israelis have also been killed in separate attacks during the same period.