Europe News Desk!!! Two Palestinians were killed on Saturday in clashes with Israeli soldiers in the Balata refugee camp near the northern West Bank city of Nablus. The Palestinian health ministry said in a statement that 32-year-old Saeed Masha and 19-year-old Wasim al-Araj died after being shot by Israeli soldiers during clashes in the refugee camp, Xinhua news agency reported. The statement added that three other Palestinians were wounded by Israeli soldiers, two of whom were in critical condition, and were taken to the main hospital by Palestinian paramedics for treatment. Palestinian eyewitnesses said that an Israeli army force, supported by armored vehicles, stormed the area and surrounded a building where two terrorists were hiding, triggering fierce clashes in the area between the two sides.
Eyewitnesses said that Israeli soldiers fired anti-tank missiles at the building, killing two youths inside the building. Dozens of youths pelted stones at the jawans and clashes broke out in the refugee camp. The Israeli army did not comment on the killing of the two Palestinians. However, Israel Radio reported that two were killed in the exchange of fire in the Balata refugee camp, both wanted by Israel. Since early January, Israeli forces have been conducting daily raids on Palestinian towns, villages and refugee camps in the West Bank. According to Palestinian figures, 117 Palestinians have been killed since then. Israeli officials said attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem have killed 19 Israelis since January.
–IANS
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