MIDDLE EAST: Israeli troops killed five Palestinians yesterday during the biggest raid against West Bank militants for months, stoking tension as Hamas Islamists held talks to form a new Palestinian government.
"This is a war crime aimed at continuing the escalation and undermining Hamas efforts to form a government," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. "We are committed to resistance and the occupation will pay the price for these crimes."
Mr Abu Zuhri did not say exactly what Hamas would do. Though formally committed to destroying Israel, it has largely followed a truce for the past year.
New Palestinian parliament speaker Aziz Dweik also condemned the attack. "This is a heinous crime which amounts to genocide against the Palestinians who are suffering badly under occupation," he said.
Medics said three gunmen were among the dead in Nablus. Two other men were shot dead when Palestinians confronted troops with stones and petrol bombs.
The army said its forces had opened fire when they came under attack as they tried to arrest wanted militants planning to strike Israel. Two Israeli soldiers were wounded.
The latest deaths in Nablus take the toll to eight over five days. It was the deadliest raid into the occupied West Bank since mid-2005.