Israeli forces kill three Palestinians in Nablus raid

Army claims Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade commander was among the dead after West Bank operation

Palestinians search a house to retrieve the bodies of three Palestinians killed by Israeli troops during a raid in the West Bank city of Nablus. EPA

Palestinians inspect a building damaged during clashes with Israeli forces in Nablus. Reuters

Palestinians carry the body of Islam Sabouh. Israeli police said forces encircled the home of Ibrahim Al Nabulsi, who they say was wanted for a string of shootings in the West Bank earlier this year, and that Al Nabulsi and Sabouh were killed in a shootout. AP Photo

Palestinians evacuate the bodies of three Palestinians killed by Israeli troops. EPA

Palestinians grieve for those killed during the raid. EPA

Palestinians clash with Israeli troops. EPA

A Palestinian protester runs during clashes with Israeli security forces' vehicles. AFP

Protesters hurl rocks at Israeli security forces' vehicles. AFP

A wounded man is carried during the clashes with Israeli troops. EPA

Palestinian health officials said three people were killed and at least 40 people wounded in the gun battle. AP Photo

Smoke rises above buildings during the Israeli army operation in Nablus. AP Photo

Israeli forces raided a house in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus on Tuesday, killing three Palestinians including a senior militant commander, officials said.

Gunfire could be heard across the town throughout the day and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said its medics treated 69 people for gunshot wounds across the Nablus area, at least four of them in critical condition.

Soldiers blew up a house in the old town of the West Bank city, medical sources said.

The raid comes two days after a truce was agreed by Israel and Palestine following deadly fighting in Gaza.

The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed the death of the three Palestinians.

"The terrorist Ibrahim Al Nabulsi was killed in the city of Nablus," an Israeli army statement said. It said that "another terrorist", who was staying at the house, had also been killed.

Al Nabulsi was the commander of one of the West Bank's main militant groups, known as the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, which operates under the ruling Fatah party.

"Israeli army and special forces are surrounding the house of a wanted man in Nablus. There is an exchange of fire," the army had said in an earlier statement.

Islamic Jihad spokesman Musab Al Braim said the loss of its leaders could be absorbed and it controlled "the human element, the human miracle that can repair capabilities".

Around other parts of Nablus, violence involving Israeli troops broke out as Palestinians threw stones.

Heavy gunfire rang out as dozens of Israeli military vehicles brought traffic to a standstill.

"A violent clash developed with dozens of rioters who threw stones and explosives at the forces, who responded by means of crowd dispersal and shooting," the army said. "Several injuries were confirmed.

"All the forces have left the city. There are no casualties to our forces."

Since March, Israeli forces have carried out a number of operations attacking extremists, in which at least 57 Palestinians have been killed, mostly in the West Bank.

Three Israeli-Arab attackers have also been killed.

The Palestinian death toll includes suspected militants and non-combatants, among them Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American dual citizen, who was covering an Israeli raid in Jenin.

Attacks on Israeli targets have killed 19 people over the same period, most of them civilians inside Israel.

Across the West Bank this year, at least 400 people from Jenin have been arrested, the Palestinian Prisoners Society reported. Some among those arrested were carrying out attacks in Israel.