Clashes after Israeli force storm refugee camp near Jericho

A large group of Israeli troops stormed Aqabat Jaber refugee camp close to Jericho in the West Bank on Wednesday afternoon , leading to armed clashes with Palestinian resistance fighters.

Local sources told The New Arab's Arabic-language sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Israeli forces had surrounded a house in the camp and clashed with resistance fighters.

After this the Israel troops fired a number of anti-tank missiles at several houses they had surrounded in the camp.

Jericho Hospital's director, Dr. Naser Anani confirmed that one person had arrived in the hospital with a bullet wound in the head.

Palestinian Red Crescent paramedics confirmed also that one citizen had been arrested by Israeli forces after incurring injuries they described as "critical". The Wafa news agency reported three people were injured by live fire.

Israeli forces prevented ambulances from reaching the area, and closed off all roads leading to Aqabat Jaber camp, isolating it completely as part of a military operation which is ongoing until this moment. Local sources also said the Israeli forces had arrested a number of Palestinians, and had used others as human shields.

Since last Monday, Israeli forces have imposed a tight blockade on Jericho, intensifying military measures after announcing that perpetrators of a militant operation which took place on a settler road had managed to flee into the city.

This was in reference to a shooting on Monday evening, north of the Dead Sea, in which an Israeli settler was killed one day after settlers rampaged through the village of Hawara south of Nablus in the northern West Bank, setting fire to homes and cars and killing one Palestinian.

This is an edited translation from our Arabic edition. To read the original article click here.