Two Palestinians martyred in Israel West Bank raid
JENIN, Palestine (AFP) - Israeli forces martyred two Palestinian militants on Thursday during an arrest raid that sparked gun battles in a West Bank stronghold of hardline factions, said Palestinian officials and Israel's army.
Muhammad Ayman al-Saadi, 26, and Naim Jamal Zubaidi, 27, were "martyred by the Israeli occupation bullets at dawn today during its aggression on Jenin camp," a Palestinian Health Ministry statement said.
Deadly violence has surged in the territory since March, when Israel launched near daily raids following a series of deadly attacks targeting Israelis.
Palestinian sources familiar with Islamic Jihad who requested anonymity confirmed Saadi was a member of the group. Zubaidi belonged to a prominent Jenin family whose relatives have been targeted by Israeli forces over alleged militant ties.
Jenin is a stronghold of militant factions in the West Bank, a territory occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War of 1967.