Israel arrests West Bank activists

Israeli troops have arrested a number of Palestinians in a raid on the Balata refugee camp, east of the West Bank city of Nablus.

Dozens of Israeli military vehicles raided the camp early on Wednesday, after a standoff between fighters in the camp and Palestinian security forces, Hassan al-Titi, Al Jazeera’s correspondent, reported.

The Palestinian Authority had deployed his own troops to ensure security in the area, but Israel said it was maintaining overall control.

Israeli soldiers also stormed a number of houses in the area, al-Titi said.

Palestinian officials said at least 25 people were arrested, but Israeli forces said just eight are being held.

Al-Titi reported that Israeli forces had bombed the house of Hani al-Kaabi, a “wanted” Palestinian activist in Balata refugee camp, and were holding wife of Nasir Abu Aziz, another “wanted” activist.

The West Bank, governed by the Palestinian Fatah faction, has been under Israeli miltary occupation since 1967.

Meanwhile, in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory of Gaza, a funeral for a dead fighter turned violent when Hamas men opened fire at supporters of the rival Islamic Jihad faction, leaving one person dead, medical officials said.

The Hamas men began shooting after Islamic Jihad members threw stones at a Hamas police station during the funeral of the Islamic Jihad fighter, witnesses said.

Al Jazeera

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