RAMALLAH, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- At least six Palestinians were killed on Sunday during clashes with the Israeli army in the West Bank, Ramallah-based Palestinian Health Ministry said.
In a press statement, the ministry said three young men were killed during clashes with the Israeli army at the Qalandiya military checkpoint, and their bodies have been transferred to the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah.
The fourth young man was killed after he was shot in the chest by Israeli soldiers' live bullets during clashes in Hebron city, while the fifth young man was killed in clashes at the northern entrance to the city of Jericho.
A member of the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, was killed during an exchange of fire with the Israeli army near the West Bank city of Nablus early on Sunday, according to Palestinian and Israeli sources.
The Health Ministry confirmed that 19-year-old Ahmed Awawda was killed by the Israeli army near the town of Deir Sharaf, west of Nablus, while the Israeli media outlets said that Awawda opened fire toward an Israeli military post before he was shot dead by security forces.
The Jenin branch of the Al-Quds Brigades said in a brief statement that its member Awawda was killed during an exchange of fire with Israeli forces.
The clashes and exchange of fire followed a massive surprise attack launched by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Israel on Saturday. During the attack, Hamas militants broke through the security fence that separate the Gaza Strip from Israel and stormed nearby communities, killing and capturing Israelis. ■
