At least five Palestinians have been killed and 20 wounded during violent clashes that erupted in Nablus after being stormed by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) late on Monday. A sixth Palestinian was killed by the IOF in Ramallah.
The confrontations erupted after large numbers of Israeli forces infiltrated into Nablus and were spotted by Palestinian resistance fighters.
“There are five dead and 20 wounded four of them seriously by Israeli gunfire in Nablus” the Palestinian Health Ministry said in a brief statement.
The martyrs were identified as: Wadih Al-Houh Hamdi Sharaf Ali Antar Hamdi Qayyim and Mishaal Baghdadi.
A sixth person was shot dead by Israeli soldiers in Nabi Saleh north of the city of Ramallah the ministry said.
Local sources reported that IOF soldiers stormed several neighborhoods in Nablus where the sounds of shooting and explosions were heard and columns of smoke and flames were seen emanating from several neighborhoods.
The IOF then sent reinforcements backed by drones the sources added.
Meanwhile medical crews were prevented from reaching the injured.
Israeli forces also bombed a car in the Ras al-Ain area where a Palestinian was killed in the explosion.
The Arin al-Osoud (Lions’ Den) armed group released a statement saying their affiliated members were engaged in violent armed clashes with Israeli military forces who stormed the city.
A joint statement by the Israeli occupation army and the Shabak (the Israeli internal security service) said the raid was conducted on a hideout that was being used as a headquarters and explosives manufacturing site by “operatives of the ‘Lions’ Den’.”
It said Israeli security forces had “detonated the explosive manufacturing site” adding that multiple armed suspects were hit. It said that “dozens of Palestinians burned tires and hurled rocks at the troops” during the operation.
