Israeli troops kill father, wound his son in Nablus

Israeli army forces, operating in the northern West Bank city of Nablus for the second consecutive day, shot dead on Monday a father and wounded his son, local eyewitnesses said.

The eyewitnesses in the city said that a 50-years-old Palestinian was shot dead by an Israel bullet to the neck, while he was walking down a street with his son. The son was wounded in his leg from the gunfire.

The Israeli army forces stormed the city of Nablus on Sunday claiming that they are searching for the militants suspected for planning armed attacks against Israel. The soldiers stormed dozens of homes and detained over 30 people.

The operation is the largest since the 2002 Defensive Shield operation in the whole West Bank.

Israeli sources expected it will last for several days, adding the aim was to strike Palestinian militants who reinforce military capabilities.

No Israelis were killed, but two soldiers were wounded after the operation began on Sunday, along with eight Palestinians wounded in the clashes.

The Israeli sources said up to 30 people were arrested including militants wanted for their involvement in attacks against the Jewish state.

However, Palestinian security sources said that the given Israeli numbers on detainees was inaccurate.

The army imposed curfew on the city and forced residents into their houses. The operation intensified around Nablus's old city.

The Palestinian leadership and the Hamas-led caretaker government have condemned the Operation Hot Winter against Nablus and considered it a bid to obstruct power-sharing pact between Hamas and Fatah.

Meanwhile, in the Gaza Strip, militants launched home-made rockets into southern Israel in response to the Israeli operation in Nablus.

The attacks were claimed by the military wings of the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) and Fatah movement.

Source: Xinhua