RAMALLAH/JERUSALEM, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian teenager during a raid in the occupied West Bank on Monday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, amid escalating violence in the region.
The ministry said in a statement that Mohammed Balhan, 15, died after being shot in the chest and abdomen during clashes with Israeli soldiers that broke out in the Aqabat Jabr refugee camp south of the city of Jericho.
Two other Palestinians were shot and moderately injured during clashes with the Israeli soldiers in the refugee camp and were taken to the hospital for urgent medical treatment, the statement added.
Palestinian eyewitnesses said that Israeli soldiers stormed the refugee camp early in the afternoon and raided several houses to arrest Palestinians wanted by the Israeli security forces for allegedly being involved in attacks against Israel.
The Israeli army said in a statement that the raid was carried out "in order to apprehend a terrorist suspect."
During the raid, "violent riots were instigated in a number of locations," according to the statement, adding suspects opened fire, and hurled explosive devices and Molotov cocktails at Israeli soldiers as they were leaving the camp. The Israeli soldiers then responded with live fire and 22 caliber ammunition.
Palestinian security sources said that the Israeli soldiers arrested five Palestinians from the refugee camp.
Also on Monday, Israel's Kan TV reported that an Israeli soldier was injured in an exchange of fire between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants in the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
The soldier was injured during an Israeli military operation in a refugee camp close to the city to arrest Palestinians allegedly involved in shooting attacks and blowing up explosive devices against the Israeli army, Kan TV reported.
Since Jan. 1, the Israeli army and security forces have killed 96 Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, while the Palestinian attacks have killed 19, according to official Palestinian and Israeli figures. ■
