10 Palestinians Killed, Scores Hurt In Israel West Bank Raid

NABLUS, West Bank (AP) — Israeli troops on Wednesday entered a serious Palestinian metropolis within the occupied West Bank in a uncommon, daytime arrest operation, triggering combating that killed at the least 10 Palestinians and wounded scores of others.

The raid, which diminished a constructing to rubble and left a collection of retailers riddled with bullets, was one of many bloodiest battles in almost a 12 months of combating within the West Bank and east Jerusalem. A 72-year-old man was among the many 10 killed and 102 individuals had been wounded, Palestinian officers mentioned.

The brazen raid, coupled with the excessive dying toll, raised the prospect of additional bloodshed. An analogous raid final month was adopted by a lethal Palestinian assault exterior a Jerusalem synagogue, and the Hamas militant group warned that “its patience is running out.”

The Israeli army mentioned it entered the town to arrest three needed militants suspected in earlier taking pictures assaults within the West Bank. It mentioned it tracked down the lads in a hideout.

The military mentioned it surrounded the constructing and requested the lads to give up, however as a substitute they opened fireplace. It mentioned all three had been killed in a shootout.

It mentioned that through the raid, armed suspects “shot heavily toward the forces,” which responded with reside fireplace. It mentioned others hurled rocks and explosives on the troops. There had been no Israeli casualties. It launched pictures of what it mentioned had been two automated rifles confiscated within the raid.

In the Old City of Nablus, individuals stared on the rubble that had been a big residence within the centuries-old casbah. From one finish to the opposite, retailers had been riddled with bullets. Parked automobiles had been crushed. Blood stained the cement ruins. Furniture from the destroyed residence was scattered amongst mounds of particles.

The Palestinian Health Ministry mentioned of the 102 individuals wounded, six had been in vital situation. Palestinian militant teams claimed three of the useless as members. But a 72-year-old man was additionally killed. There was no rapid phrase on whether or not the others belonged to armed teams.

An newbie video posted on-line appeared to indicate safety digital camera footage of two younger males operating down a avenue. Gunshots are heard, and each falls to the bottom, with one’s hat flying off his head. Both our bodies remained nonetheless.

Amateur video footage appeared to indicate Israeli troops working in downtown Nablus, and armed forces autos firing tear fuel canisters.

Last month, Israeli troops killed 10 militants in the same raid within the northern West Bank. The following day, a lone Palestinian gunman opened fireplace close to a synagogue in an east Jerusalem settlement, killing seven individuals.

Days later, 5 Palestinians had been killed in an Israeli arrest raid elsewhere within the West Bank. That was adopted by a Palestinian automotive ramming that killed three Israelis, together with two younger brothers, in Jerusalem.

The combating comes at a delicate time, lower than two months after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new hard-line authorities took workplace. The authorities is dominated by ultranationalists who’ve pushed for more durable motion towards Palestinian militants. Israeli media have quoted prime safety officers as expressing concern that this might result in much more violence.

In the Gaza Strip, a spokesman for the ruling Hamas militant group issued a veiled risk.

“The resistance in Gaza is observing the enemy’s escalating crimes against our people in the occupied West Bank, and its patience is running out,” mentioned Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the group.

The group has battled Israel to 4 wars since seizing management of Gaza in 2007, and Israeli officers have expressed considerations about rising tensions forward of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins in March.

At least 55 Palestinians have been killed within the West Bank and east Jerusalem this 12 months, a tempo that would exceed final 12 months’s dying toll. Last 12 months, almost 150 Palestinians had been killed within the West Bank and east Jerusalem, making it the deadliest 12 months in these areas since 2004, in response to figures by the Israeli rights group B’Tselem.

Israel says that almost all of these killed have been militants however others — together with youths protesting the incursions and different individuals not concerned in confrontations — have additionally been killed. An AP tally has discovered that just below half of these killed belonged to militant teams.

Israel says the army raids are supposed to dismantle militant networks and thwart future assaults whereas the Palestinians view them as additional entrenchment of Israel’s open-ended, 55-year occupation.

Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip within the 1967 Mideast struggle, territories the Palestinians search for his or her hoped-for unbiased state.

Federman reported from Jerusalem.