Two Palestinians killed as Israel raids West Bank refugee camp

Israeli forces killed two Palestinians, including a fighter from Hamas, during a raid on a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank early on Sunday, emergency workers and Hamas said.

Israeli forces raided the Nur Shams camp near the city of Tulkarm, initiating a gun battle with Palestinian fighters, medic Najeeb Adeeb said.

The Israeli military claimed it conducted "counterterrorism activity" in the camp, allegedly dismantled an "operational command centre" and reportedly uncovered "dozens of explosive devices and bomb-making components".

"During the activity, suspects opened fire and hurled explosive devices at the forces, who responded with live fire. Hits were identified," the Israeli army said in a statement.

Hamas said one of those killed belonged to its armed wing. There was no immediate word on the identity of the other man reported to have been killed.

The Israeli army said one of its soldiers was moderately wounded.

Violence in the West Bank has raged for more than a year, with stepped-up Israeli military raids, increased settler assaults on Palestinian villages and a spate of Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

As day dawned on the Nur Shams camp, residents took stock of the roads, infrastructure and buildings damaged during an operation that witnesses said lasted around six hours.

Some 13,519 Palestinian refugees are registered in Nur Shams camp with the UN agency for refugees, descendants of Palestinians who were forced out or fled their homes during the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation. 

(Reuters)