A senior commander of the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) and a member of the Fatah movement were shot dead by Israeli soldiers in the northern West Bank city of Nablus on early Monday.

Palestinian security sources said that Amjad Nafa, top Jihad commander in Nablus, and Ahmed Abu Sharekh, a member of the al- Aqsa Martyrs Brigades which is Fatah's armed wing, were killed during the Israeli raid on the Balata refugee camp in Nablus.

Witnesses said that Israeli troops backed by dozens of tanks and armored vehicles stormed the refugee camp and clashed with Palestinian militants.

Meanwhile, Israel Radio quoted the army spokesman as saying that at least two other Palestinians were wounded and seven militants wanted for alleged involvement in attacks on Israeli targets were arrested, among them two members of al-Aqsa, one of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and one of Jihad.

It was the second Israeli raid on Nablus in two days. Four Palestinians were killed in the Israeli operation on Sunday.

The Israeli army said that the military moves targeted the Islamic Jihad in Nablus after the army received warnings of possible Jihad attacks on Israeli targets.

The Israeli cabinet decided on Sunday to step up security measures at the Gaza crossings and occupied West Bank areas following the inauguration of the Hamas-dominated Palestinian parliament.

The Islamic Jihad, which insists on Israel's destruction, has been behind deadly attacks on Israel in the past.

Source: Xinhua