RAMALLAH, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) — The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) has condemned the killing of two Palestinians Monday at the hands of Israeli forces in the West Bank.
“This is an Israeli attempt to create an atmosphere of escalation before September,” said Nabil Abu Rdineh, spokesman for the Palestinian presidency, referring to the month in which the Palestinians will ask the United Nations to vote on their state.
Early in the morning, Israeli troops shot dead two Palestinians and wounded three others during a military operation.
The Israeli army raided Qalandiya refugee camp between the cities of Ramallah and Jerusalem in a routine operation to arrest wanted Palestinians, Israeli media reported.
During the operation, clashes erupted between families and the Israeli force, where soldiers responded with live fire to people throwing rocks and empty glasses.
The shooting killed two and wounded three Palestinians. An Israeli army spokesperson said that five soldiers were lightly wounded.
One of the dead is an officer in the Palestinian National Authority, which controls the West Bank, security sources said.
The Israeli army raids Palestinian controlled areas in the West Bank on daily basis, cracking down on what Israel calls wanted activists. Deadly clashes during these raids are unusual.
