Israeli army raids West Bank refugee camp

One Palestinian youth was killed today when Israeli troops raided a West Bank refugee camp before dawn, Palestinian residents said.

More than 20 armoured vehicles were met with gunfire when they entered the hilly Ein Beit Ilmeh camp in the centre of Nablus.

The army said troops were involved in exchanges of fire and encountered stone-throwing riots in their search for militants.

Palestinian residents said one armed youth, 17, was killed in the shooting.

Palestinian witnesses said some Israeli soldiers were wounded in an explosion.

The Israeli army said one soldier was lightly injured.

Witnesses claimed that soldiers used a resident as a shield as they moved house to house to search of suspected militants.

The army did not immediately comment on the allegation.

Israel’s Supreme Court has ruled the practice is illegal.

Troops imposed a curfew in the crowded camp of 5,000 and searched from house to house, knocking down walls to get from one building to the next, witnesses said.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a small militant group, said the dead youth was a member, identifying him as Mohammed Ridah Khaled.