Israel army wounds 5 Palestinians in WBank clash

NABLUS, West Bank, Aug 26 (Reuters) Israeli soldiers shot and wounded five Palestinians, including one seriously, during an operation in the West Bank town of Nablus today, Palestinian medics said.

Witnesses said soldiers fired on Palestinians throwing stones at them, wounding a 15-year-old boy seriously and four others lightly.

They said the protesters threw stones after the army surrounded a building where two wanted militants were believed to be holed up.

The Israeli army said it would not comment because the operation had not ended.

Israeli troops also detained four Palestinians in the Gaza Strip near the southern town of Rafah, residents said, adding those taken away had not been involved in militancy.

An army spokeswoman said two militants from the governing Hamas movement had been detained.

Residents said two Palestinians had been wounded by gunfire in that operation.

The raid was part of a two-month Israeli offensive in Gaza that began after Palestinian militants including Hamas gunmen captured an Israeli soldier in a cross-border attack.

Israel withdrew from Gaza last year after 38 years of occupation.

REUTERS MQA BD1356