Israeli Troops Kill 5 in Nablus

02/24/2006

JERUSALEM, Feb. 23 (NY Times) — Israeli troops shot five Palestinians to death on Thursday during clashes in the West Bank city of Nablus, the Israeli military and Palestinian medical workers said.

Israeli troops have been pursuing militants in the Balata Refugee Camp, on the edge of Nablus, for several days, and the fighting has been some of the heaviest in recent weeks.

The Israeli soldiers killed three wanted members of Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades in a shooting exchange with the gunmen, who were holed up in a house, Palestinian witnesses and medical workers said.

A fourth Palestinian man, who the Israeli military said was armed, was shot dead on the roof of a house. The fifth Palestinian killed was part of a group of stone-throwing youths, Palestinians said, though the military said he had been shot after throwing a firebomb at the soldiers.

Mr. Abbas, in a statement, called on the Israeli government to end “its aggression against the Palestinian people, because this escalation will lead to a further deterioration and undermine efforts at preserving the climate of calm.”