RAMALLAH: Two Palestinians were shot dead overnight by Israeli soldiers in the Qalandiya refugee camp in the West Bank, Palestinian medics and security officials said on Monday.
The dead men, Moatassem Adwan, 22, and 23-year-old Ali Khalifa, were killed by soldiers as they carried out arrests in the camp on the road from Ramallah to Jerusalem.
An official from the Fatah movement told AFP that Israeli troops entered the camp at around 3:30 am (0030 GMT) and arrested one youth before clashes broke out, with young men throwing stones at soldiers.
The soldiers then opened fire on the stone-throwers, killing two, the official said on condition of anonymity.
Palestinian intelligence sources said the two "were taken to the Ramallah hospital at dawn. One of them was shot in the head and was martyred immediately. The second was martyred shortly afterwards."
An Israeli military spokeswoman confirmed clashes between Palestinians and Israeli troops carrying out an arrest operation in Qalandiya refugee camp.
She said five soldiers were injured in the confrontations but could not confirm that any Palestinians had been killed in the incident.
Palestinian presidency spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina condemned the killings in a statement to government news agency WAFA.
"We condemn the Israeli crime that occurred in Qalandiya camp today, and led to the martyrdom of two youths," he said.
"This is an Israeli attempt to escalate the situation before September and comes alongside continued attacks by settlers against (Palestinian) citizens and their property," he added.
