An Islamic Jihad (Holy War) militant was shot dead by Israeli forces in the northern West Bank city of Jenin on Wednesday afternoon, security sources and witnesses said.

They said that Muhahed al-Sabe, 26, commander of Islamic Jihad's armed wing Saraya al-Quds in northern West Bank, was killed in gunbattle with members of Israel's undercover elite forces.

According to the sources, the Israeli forces withdrew from the area after clashing with more Palestinian militants. Before the withdrawal, about 25 military vehicles stormed the city to provide cover for the elite forces.

There was no word on more casualties.

Al-Sabe spent three years in an Israeli prison and was released last year. Israel accuses him of being behind a number of attacks against Israeli soldiers in the West Bank.

In another development, Palestinian medics said that five Palestinian militants were wounded when an Israeli army aircraft fired one missile at a group of militants east of the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip.

Earlier on Wednesday morning, two Palestinians, a militant and a 16-year-old boy, were killed in the area by Israeli soldiers backed by tanks and bulldozers, security sources said.

Source: Xinhua