Palestinian health officials say six Palestinians, including a 15-year-old boy, have been killed by Israeli forces during a raid into Jenin refugee camp.
Report says an Israeli helicopter fired missiles after Palestinian militants targeted troop carriers with explosives.
The Palestinian health ministry said five men and a 15-year-old boy, whom it named Ahmed Saqr, were killed during the raid. While the fifth man died of his wounds this morning.
The ministry added that more than 90 Palestinians were wounded, including a 15-year-old girl who local reports said was hit by a bullet that came through the wall of her home.
While a Palestinian photojournalist covering the raid, Hazem Imad Nasser, was also among those wounded. Palestinian medics said he underwent surgery after being shot in his side.
Meanwhile, the Palestine Red Crescent Society has accused the Israeli army of stopping medical teams from reaching casualties.
The society’s director in Jenin, Dr. Mahmoud al-Saadi, said “We are working in very difficult conditions. The Israeli occupation forces impeded the movement of ambulances and prevented medical staff from performing their duties.”
Extraction
The Israeli army said it had to mount a “logistical operation under fire” to remove several stranded vehicles.
Seven Israeli soldiers and border police officers were wounded three of them “moderately”, according to the army.
It is the first time in years possibly since the height of the second Palestinian Intifada, or uprising, two decades ago that the Israeli military has used attack helicopters in the West Bank.
The helicopter reportedly fired at militants on the ground while Israeli forces tried to extract soldiers.
One resident told local media: “We are unable to leave the house, it’s a real war here. Apache helicopters are flying over our heads.”
“The helicopter bombed a field in our neighbourhood. Some people were injured and a water pipe was damaged, causing water outages in large parts of Jenin camp.”
The Palestinian Authority described the raid as “Israeli aggression on Jenin which is a serious, dangerous escalation and must stop immediately.”
Report says the raid is a further sign that US-led attempts to de-escalate tensions in the West Bank are failing.
BBC/Christopher Ojilere
